Florists warned not to use kiwifruit vines in floral arrangements

Kiwifruit Vine Health is warning florists to stop using kiwifruit vines in their floral arrangements because of the risk of spreading the vine canker Psa.

Florists New Zealand Incorporated chair Michele Clark says kiwifruit vines have been used by florists for years and until recently have been available at the markets.

“We are doing our best to get the message to florists about the risk of spreading the disease and we understand markets have now stopped selling kiwifruit vines,” says Ms Clark.

Kiwifruit Vine Health chief executive Barry O’Neil says as recently as early October growers have reported kiwifruit vines were still being used in flower arrangements.

“People may have forgotten the warnings or decided there’s no longer a risk as the disease has already spread. But there are still a significant number of growing areas that are disease free and if someone received a bunch of flowers with a diseased vine in it they could take it anywhere in New Zealand,” says Dr O’Neil.

Dr O’Neil suggests grape vines could be a better alternative to kiwifruit vines in floral arrangements.