Why growers in East African prefer NIRP rose varieties

NIRP International has been around for more than half a century and is now listed among world leaders in rose breeding and marketing. Their East African facility located in Naivasha is dedicated to a specific breeding program for the East African rose growers. NIRP East Africa also has a vibrant showhouse and budwood production area.

The showhouse includes a large number of newly introduced and well known commercial roses.

"Our roses are appreciated in the market not only because of their aesthetic value but also because of good trade and growing performance." says Danielle Spinks, Sales and Marketing manager at NIRP East Africa.

Here is a cross section of the roses currently in bloom at NIRP's showhouse. This is a great time for growers in Kenya and other parts of East Africa to visit and make selections.

Siberia is grown by Timaflor Ltd at an altitude of above 2,300 on the slopes of Mount Kenya. The beautiful white rose is among NIRP's high productive Directline range. Production in Kenya is above 180 and she has an average bud size of 4.5cm.

Alba is a premium white and is currently grown in Kenya by 7 growers. One of the reason Alba is quite a popular rose is because of her average production of over 200. Alba grows a large head and also has an impressive vaselife of up to 16 days. 

Stardust is a well known yellow rose in the market. In Kenya stardust is grown by Fontana Group. She is ideal for high altitude growers with good production of 180. Stardust has an average lenghth of 60-90 and a headsize of 6cm.

Copacabana has a nice strong orange color. She is a good producer and has a unique shape. She is a good rose for high and low alititude. Copacabana is planted by Penta Roses and Rift Valley Roses and will be made available to the market through Fresco by end of this year or early 2017.

What Else? has a subtle yellow color that matches her long stem of 60-80cm. The rose is grown commercially at low and high altitude. What Else? has an average bud size of 4.5cm.

Happy Days is a new orange rose currently under trial at several farms in both low and high altitude. She has a unique opening and a beautiful shape.

Red Alert is among the best known reds in the market. The rose is grown at three different farms in Kenya. Red Alert does not blacken easily under any type of plastic. She has a velvety red color and displays good resistance to diseases. She records an average production of 200-220 in the Naivasha altitude. 

Party Red is grown at Timaflor, and Suera in Kenya and at Linssen Roses in Ethiopia. She has an average stemlength of 50-60cm and a budsize of 4.5.