FAIRBANKS -- Peonies will be the focus of a conference that begins today at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Experts in floriculture, specialty cut flowers, nutrition, soils, plant diseases, breeding and post-harvest care will attend from universities and businesses across the nation.

Horticulture professor Patricia Holloway says the conference will give attendees a good background on the showy flower.

She says she considers peony blossoms the most economically valuable plant in Alaska and the first agricultural export with a huge potential.

Currently, 41 producers grow peonies in Alaska. Of those, 13 have 500 or more peony plants.