Every year around 200,000 new rose plants emerge in Provence, a region in southern France. All of this is done by hand by the Meilland family and its employees. After a testing period of 5 to 7 years in France, and at various locations in Europe, Japan and the USA, about 10 to 15 new varieties are introduced each year. And only a few of those are suitable to get into the fragrant cut roses selection.
The House of Meilland has more than 200 employees in France alone and a turnover of € 18 million. Meilland’s research team is dedicated to the creation of rose varieties for cut flowers (fresh flowers) and varieties for garden and landscape. They have a garden roses production company (grafted and cutting) and a mail-order company which sells rosebushes, plants, bulbs and seeds.
They have 5 trial stations throughout Europe, with more than 600 employees including 30 agronomists and technicians. 14 hectares greenhouses and 240 hectares field. 20,000 m³ cold storage for storage of plants. Meilland has a system to test garden rose varieties and cut flowers (fresh flowers) on every continent and taking into account all types of climates. With agents or partners in more than 62 countries.
Their scented cut roses collection is grown at the Tambuzi farm in Kenya. A small scale and very sustainable rose farm situated at the foot of Mount Kenya.
When peonies are out of season, the four Yves Piaget varieties from the Meilland collection are the perfect substitutes. These four genetic sisters (the rose Pink Yves Piaget was found accidentally as a mutant of the normal Yves Piaget rose at the Tambuzi farm in Kenya) are peony shaped and all have a delicious scent.