Adrian Parsons

Helix Australia

I am a Horticultural Sales & Marketing strategist with over 30 years experience in management across retail, wholesale, import, export, growing, IP management,licensing,sales, marketing and public relations in a range of horticultural trade channels .

I have established three successful horticultural enterprises with offices in Melbourne, Perth and Fallbrook California, flower growing operations in Victoria and Western Australia, employed over 70 FTEs, distributed the flower crops of over 200 local and overseas growers whilst servicing a customer base in excess of 300 clients in key Australian and overseas markets.

I have taken an active role in various industry bodies including President Australian Flower Export Council (A.F.E.C.), committee member Victorian Flower Growers Group, member Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (R.I.R.D.C.) Wildflower committee and the Flower Advisory Committee at the Melbourne Market Authority(M.M.A)

I have assisted a number of community and charity groups including Cystic Fibrosis Victoria ,Red Cross,Motherless Daughters Australia, SAS Resources Fund and McGrath Foundation

Show Notes

  1. To help you plan, if you order waxflower from Holland or another European country, you’re probably paying a per stem price.  However, if your waxflower is coming from other places like South America or California it’s a grower bunch or sold by weight.

  2. Waxflower is grown around the world allowing it to be available almost year round.  It may have a week or two of low production as the season switches between the northern and southern hemisphere and then back again.  These gaps occur between late October to early November, then again in parts of May into early June.

  3. Culturally, it likes it hot and dry, with light and sandy soil.  It doesn’t like the cold, like a frost or heavy soils.

  4. I love the idea of cutting waxflowers in bud creating an additional product category.  Their little buds can add color and texture to design work.

  5. Don’t underestimate the importance of branding with your marketing.  Your customers will grow to recognize your name, quality, and difference with other similar products from different growers.

  6. As the waxflower season begins in the US ( usually April-May), ask your wholesalers for American Grown Waxflower. Communicating with your wholesaler about American grown product is very helpful information for their buyers.