What if we told you that one of Japan's most successful preserved and dried flower companies started because someone simply looked at a ‘weed’ out there and thought, "That would be cool if it were white"? Well, while most business origin stories involve great ideas and visualizations, or deep market research, in Japan, Ohchi (or Ohchi Agricultural Ltd) went about it differently. This company that produces preserved and dried flowers began with something quite unlikely; something refreshingly honest: pure curiosity! They envisioned creating an extraordinary product from something rather ordinary.
An Accidental Discovery That Changed Everything
Walking through the mountains near his home in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture, something that others had completely overlooked–the natural beauty of wild mountain ferns growing freely in their native habitat–caught the eye of the founder of Ohchi Nursery. These wild ferns, called ‘Yamashida’ (Dicranopteris linearis), grew practically everywhere around.
And while most people would pass by without a second glance, he saw something quite different in them; perhaps an opportunity in these common plants. Then he thought to himself: "If these could be made white, wouldn't that be interesting? Many people could use them." Well, that was not just a casual observation, but the start of something that would define generations.
So, through steady research and ingenuity, coupled with purpose and countless hours of experimentation, he developed a technique to bleach these mountain ferns white, making them something entirely new. In 1955, they began to be sold as a commercial product and became an instant success, especially in the world of Ikebana, which is the art of Japanese flower arrangement. This is how what started as a family-sized business built around a single ignored plant grew big.
Ohchi Nursery:
“This idea is the origin of our continued production of various products.”
A Philosophy That Built a Dried and Preserved Flower Industry
The thinking of Ohchi is beautifully simple yet far-reaching: to find beauty in nature that others miss, and continue to develop methods to share that beauty with the world; a mindset that became the basis upon which they, now known globally under the Earth Matters brand, would build their preserved and dried flowers facility.
Today, nearly seven decades later, that small family business back then is a business employing hundreds of people, unified by the very essence of discovery and innovation. Since 1955, Ohchi has consistently produced preserved and dried flowers in its facility, developing what they proudly term a world-class processing technology.
Ohchi Nursery Ltd:
“We have been producing [dried and preserved flowers] in an integrated manner at our own factory. As a professional in natural material processing, we never compromise [quality] and are constantly exploring new technologies. We continue to take on the challenge of creating new products.”
Ohchi Farms’ current offerings are quite staggering in their diversity and scope. With more than 2,000 items in their lineup, including preserved flowers and dried flowers featuring roses, hydrangeas—those voluminous, cloud-like flowers that bring such dramatic beauty to any arrangement—various foliage, including bright red autumn leaves of Acer and Christmas Conifers with lingering scents, greens, and leaves, they are synonymous with quality and novelty.
Their collection ranges from chrysanthemums to orchids, gerberas, jasmine, carnations, dahlias, and roses in various sizes—some with flower diameters ranging from 1.2 to 2.8 inches. The most refined exotic flowers, like Cymbidium and Anthurium, have been stabilized here, and the subtlest colors have also been developed here since they began their operations years ago.
The company is made even more unique, not just by their technical expertise, but also by their enthusiasm for finding unique items that cannot be found anywhere else. As a result, their catalog, published twice yearly with comprehensive and seasonal editions, showcases novelties that seem to exceed what is possible with natural materials. From their signature Parisienne roses to their different chrysanthemum varieties, every one of their products speaks volumes about the careful research and development process that went into their production.
The Science Behind Flower Preservation: Why Are These Flowers Loved?
The charm of preserved flowers lies in more than just their longevity, though that certainly matters in contemporary floral design. Preserving and drying floral materials means their textures, shapes, and colors are maintained for many years, which allows shipping anywhere and anytime without spoilage risk. This durability means creators can work at their own pace, their timing guided by their inspiration, rather than rushing against the wilting of the flowers.
In Japan, the success of preserved flowers is innately built into their cultural values of patience, precision, and lasting beauty. These floral products’ sales grow every year as people express emotions by arranging preserved flowers, and their expressions last through time. But the appeal is universal—each country has its aesthetic idea for working with these ‘eternal’ flowers.
The science behind preserved flowers lies in a fascinating scientific process that essentially pauses time for them. Fresh flowers are carefully treated with special solutions that replace their natural moisture while maintaining their cellular structure, texture, and vivid colors. This process, which Ohchi has refined through decades of research and development, allows flowers to maintain their beauty for years rather than just days. Unlike dried flowers, which often become brittle and fade, preserved flowers retain their soft, natural feel and lush appearance, as if they were just picked fresh from the garden.
As concisely noted, the most common method for creating these preserved flowers involves treating the fresh flower with a special solution that replaces the water in the plant's cells. This solution typically contains glycerin and other compounds that maintain flexibility while preventing decay. The process requires precise timing, temperature control, and careful selection of flowers at their peak of beauty. Not all flowers are suitable for preservation—they must be chosen when they are at the perfect stage of blooming, neither too young nor too mature.
Different flowers require different preservation techniques. Roses, for instance, respond well to absorption methods where stems are placed in preserving solutions that gradually replace the natural sap. Hydrangeas, whose petals are clustered, often require more specialized treatment to ensure that the preserving agents reach every part of the flower head evenly.
Ohchi Nursery's Innovation With an Earth-Friendly Touch
Ohchi is keen on sustainability across its value chain. The commitment to environmental responsibility seems to run just as deep as their love for floral beauty and innovation. They pride themselves on being ‘Earth-friendly’ because their manufacturing process acknowledges not just the cycle of nature, but also other elements that define sustainability and eco-friendliness. They have in place water and air pollution control measures, waste reduction measures, and initiatives for decarbonization (reducing greenhouse gas emissions). They also make use of fallow fields and practice disaster area reconstruction support. Furthermore, they are keen on fair trade ideals and often offer assistance to emerging economies.
Ohchi Nursery;
“As a thank you to our customers for helping us recycle rose and Hydrangea plastic trays, we give away accessories made from renewable materials, handmade in Kenya. With the cooperation of our customers, we can provide work opportunities to Kenyan refugees, women, and others.”
For their responsible water use, for instance, they have wastewater treatment facilities that return the water to nature at filtration levels much cleaner than required standards.
All by Dint of Seeing Beauty in What Others Miss
Every so often, innovation comes from seeing possibilities where others see nothing special, as was the case with the mountain fern growing wild in the hills of Japan that seemed worthless to most observers, but laid the groundwork for this leading preserved and dried flower enterprise. One need not look very deep or very far away for inspiration.
So, as the awareness of sustainability grows alongside the desire to make beautiful floral items last longer, the dried and preserved flower industry makes for both an artistic feat and a reflection of environmental consciousness. Yet, Ohchi Nursery exemplifies this.
Photos by Ohchi Farm (earthmatters__ohchi).
