Garden roses have gained popularity over the last years and particularly in spring this type of rose seems to sell very well, explains Isabelle Henin Spindler of Red Lands Roses. This Kenyan farm is specialized in the production of T-Hybrid and spray roses and sees more and more florists diversifying with long stem garden spray roses.
Isabelle Henin Spindler and Rita Wanjiku at the IFTF 2019 in Vijfhyuizen, the Netherlands.
"As the competition of the supermarkets is getting more fierce every year, florists need to offer products and services that supermarkets can't offer", says Spindler. "People are always looking for something that makes a product different and stem length seems to be the thing that makes a spray rose different enough from the others in the market."
According to her, the 70 and 80 cm stem lengths were popular last spring. "These long stem lengths are mostly used for large events and weddings. In China, for example, we see that the rich are spending on garden spray roses with long stems because no one else has it. Also here, it is all about being different and therefore standing out."
According to Spindler, it is still a niche market, but she is very satisfied with the demand and prices. "We are one of the few growers that are able to produce these roses in this long length and in a good quality."
At the IFTF, last November, they already showed some of their new garden varieties that will be ready in May 2020. "We started multiplying two years ago and are currently doing commercial trials. In May next year, we will be ready to supply boxes."
For more information
Red Lands Roses
Isabelle Henin Spindler
Email:gm@redlandsroses.co.ke
www.redlandsroses.com