Chrysanthemums are a must-have for All Saints’ Day. And yet less and less are sold, while cyclamen and heather are gaining ground. Frédéric Libourel, florist in Calvisson and Aigues-Vives, president of the Gard florist union, gives some explanations. Interview.
ObjectifGard: How is the chrysanthemum market doing in Gard?
Frédéric Libourel: The chrysanthemum market is still in decline. We still have our senior customers, All Saints' Day faithful. But the younger generation no longer decorates tombs with flowers as before. The proportion of purchasing households in 2023 had fallen to 18% while it was almost 22% in 2019. And we realize that now, families buy a single plant together, whereas before they bought several .
There is therefore an economic issue…
It's a whole. There is also an evolution in funeral practices, with more and more cremations and therefore less flowering. And then indeed, the current economic situation means that people spend less, in all areas the average basket is reduced, this is also true for the deceased. We also notice that they turn to other types of autumn plants, cyclamen, heathers etc. I also get asked for a lot of plant cuts, it's a bit of a trend at the moment.
The cyclamen of the Jardin de Llorens in Fourques. • S.Ma
Sacred flower and symbol of happiness in Japan, can we imagine the chrysanthemum anywhere other than in cemeteries in France?
It's complicated because the chrysanthemum is still very associated with death, although it is a super beautiful, very colorful plant that we can put in our gardens in the fall. I have a few clients who do it, but the chrysanthemum is still too associated with the cemetery, unfortunately. Mentalities are difficult to change, but perhaps one day we will offer chrysanthemums as we offer other plants, other flowers.
Focus on the Llorens Garden in Fourques
Thierry Llorens and his team produce 4,000 pots of chrysanthemums, 15 times less than in the 1970s. At that time, his father, Germain, who returned from Algeria in 1962, was at the head of the newly established local production. on old marshes along the Chemin des Partisans in Fourques. “ Everyone thought my father was crazy, they told him nothing would grow here », relates his son. Germain proved them wrong and the story continues today with Thierry, 60 years old. The garden center has developed well since then, but the chrysanthemum remains the star of All Saints' Day, although overtaken by the cyclamen. with a longer flowering time “. If it's not the most important time of the year, ” All Saints' Day allows us to last winter, with the Christmas holidays, until spring », underlines Thierry Llorens. With his 42 years of experience, he is concerned about the evolution of the profession and “the increase in charges“.
The good deal: -20% on the garden center throughout the All Saints' Day holidays.
(Right) Thierry Llorens, manager of the Jardin de Llorens in Fourques. • S.Ma
