February 19 to 21, 2025 saw breeder De Ruiter East Africa (DREA) welcome growers to its facility in Naivasha during its Open Days. It was an event in which the breeder showcased many of their exquisite varieties; both old and new. Over the three days, growers from across the region converged at the De Ruiter East Africa’s Kenyan facility to witness revolutionary rose varieties and connect with their peers, in an event that emphasized De Ruiter’s century-long legacy as a forerunner in rose breeding. It, also, offered a glimpse into the future of the breeder’s influence in floral markets, more so when it comes to rose-breeding.
De Ruiter’s Open Days Presented a Glimpse Into Their Rose Breeding Mastery
The Open Days presented a live catalog of De Ruiter’s most remarkable rose creations, mixing established favorites with bold new rose varieties. By all means a success, the event had the breeder particularly delighted by the response to their red variety, Rose Revolution®, an interesting bright red rose that, according to Rohit Patil the Sales and Marketing Manager, perfectly matches the required specs of the retail market and presents promises of better prospects for high-altitude cultivation.
Essentially, all who made their way to the breeder’s Kongoni-based facility left with something new. Be it a new reflection on this variety—and many others on showcase—as they got more insights, or perhaps just a more detailed overview on De Ruiter’s rose-breeding processes, and why practically all their roses remain unmatched both in quality and beauty, all across the world. The event, however, went beyond just the floral displays. It presented a perfect opportunity for collaborative engagements where industry veterans and newcomers both exchanged insights on rose breeding and cultivation.
Growers from different regions across Kenya, as well as countries like Ethiopia, attended the Open Days, and in informal sessions with experts from De Ruiter, acquired actionable bits of advice on the best varieties to grow, how to optimize the yields of these varieties, as well as additional advice and knowledge on which select varieties are suited for which specific markets.
So which varieties, you’d perhaps want to know, stood out in the course of the event’s three days? Well, Rohit, who alongside the De Ruiter team, was at the center of it all, offered some rose varieties that stood out, made quite a statement, and were practically the talk of the Open Days.
Rose Revolution®
Definitely the star of the event, Rose Revolution®, delighted the visitors with its fiery crimson petals and robust performance. With stems reaching up to 70 cm and a 16-day vase life, this variety engineered for high-altitude cultivation and thus ideal for many regional flower farms, checked practically, all the right boxes with more growers consequently seeking to have it in their farms in the coming days. While there are growers like Shalimar Fresh who have already adopted and are growing Rose Revolution®—especially at their Shalimar Maitri farm—signaling its commercial viability, many more, according to Rohit, are now keen on investing in this variety.
Rose AlpinaRosa®
The newcomer, Rose AlpinaRosa®, also drew significant attention for its pristine white petals and slender buds. Designed for retail markets, its moderate thorn density and high productivity make it a practical choice for growers, who were also, keen on trying it out. While commercial trials are underway, early feedback suggests it could become a staple for weddings and formal events in the coming months.
Rose Ever Red®
Rose growers, particularly, love Rose Ever Red for its quality, plus its optimal yield and economic viability. The Open Days showed renewed interest in this variety, with many now keen on presenting it as a premium variety. Rose Ever Red® is known for its intense, deep red flower color, which is key to its popularity and success across virtually all markets worldwide.
Rose Mysterious®
This special cerise-colored rose is a beauty for all occasions. And, that was why it also stood out during the event. While it has been around for quite some time, many were keen on this variety, showing renewed interest in it.
More Varieties That Caught the Attendee’s Attention
Numerous other varieties stood out for their different qualities at the Open Days. The Dimension® series which incorporates varieties like Spray Rose Pink Dimension®, Spray Rose Sweet Dimension®, Spray Rose Special Dimension®, Spray Rose Peach Dimension®, and Spray Rose Juicy Dimension®, and others attracted noteworthy attention. Spray Rose Peach Dimension®, a newcomer, was particularly, impressive with its peachy hues and abundant buds per stem—perfect for trending bridal themes. The ever-so-often favorite Spray Rose Pink Dimension® continued to win hearts with its beautiful clusters and its other lovable qualities.
Others including Rose Ever Pink®, Rose Mia®, Rose Trivia®, Rose Fluence®, Rose Comanche®, Rose Emira®, and Rose Morning Light® from Genviv, all caught both the growers’ attention and interest. There were, also, many still in the testing and development stages; represented by codes for the time being, which will definitely be big hits when formally released.
Why Growers Can’t Afford to Miss the Next Open Days
For attendees, the takeaways from the Open Days were both immediate and far-reaching. Many left eager to try out and test these roses against their local conditions in the coming months. Others cited more knowledge and insights gained within the three days of the event. But, aside from all that, the Open Days certainly played their part in building and nurturing a sense of community in the general flower industry.
The economic implications are equally compelling. With global demand for roses rising—particularly across Europe and the Middle East—there is a need for sustained access to high-performing varieties. This need can make or break a grower’s competitiveness. De Ruiter’s Open Days, therefore, offered a rare chance to see many of these roses in action, demystify their breeding process, and empower growers to make informed choices on which varieties to invest in.
The breeder’s Research and Development (R&D) pipeline, also, promises even more varieties, thus future similar events will likely debut more roses with enhanced qualities and novel color gradients, crucial for adapting to the ever-changing global flower market needs and trends. Attending these Open Days, therefore, makes you one of the first to experience the novelties and new varieties. You can, therefore, mark your calendars for whenever the next one happens.
