Wake Up and Smell The ROSES, Literally!

Let’s rephrase the saying “Roses are red” and complete it in a different way. Any ideas? Well, as you ponder on that thought, perhaps we could talk about one of the treasures of Kenya that’s gone global – Roses.

The flower industry is one of Kenya’s most successful export businesses and thrives within several regions, most notably Nakuru county’s Lake Naivasha. As you drive towards the lake, acres of greenhouses surround the lake with millions of rose stems growing underneath in protected weather conditions safe from pests that may otherwise harm them.

Naivasha’s sunny days and windy nights made it one of Kenya’s earliest flower production spots. But this lake town is just one location that produces these magnificent gems. Athi River, Kajiado, Thika, Laikipia and Nairobi areas also contribute to our recognition as the heartland of roses, essentially making Kenya a flower garden! Especially for European and Arabian states who purchase these beauties from us.

For over 25 years, Kenya’s flower industry has grown, establishing itself as the third largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. Every day, Kenya exports approximately 2.5 million roses to Amsterdam, the global centre of flower distribution. Annually, we export about 800 million of these flowers with rose-laden cargo flights taking off from Jomo Kenyatta and Eldoret International Airports every single day –  now that’s a lot of beauty we provide to the world!

Roses grown in Kenya are either of two types; Spray Roses which grow in clusters on one stem or Standard Roses which produce one bloom per stem. These two are then classified into Sweethearts – small headed flowers, Intermediates – medium sized and Tea Hybrid – the big headed roses. Regardless of these differences, the necessities for sufficient growth are standard. Plenty of sunlight – six hours on average, moisture retentive soil, rich in nutrients and a neutral pH.

Back to our opening quest, how about Roses are red and Kenya’s got the best?