LADIES, THIS IS FOR YOU

Why David Austin roses rule the wedding world

By Collins Ogola

A wedding is every woman’s dream. When your man proposes to you and you say yes, your mind quickly shifts to how you will walk down the aisle your parents holding your hands as you approach the man of your dreams but less do the bride and bridegroom focus on the flower they will hold during the wedding.

According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya horticulture industry (vegetables, fruits and flowers) exports 136 tonnes to Europe bringing the country a total of Kshs. 108 billion annually in foreign exchange. Of this, flowers account for Kshs. 54.8 billion. Kenya is among the three countries in the world that export flowers together with Ecuador and

David Austin is a type of a rose flower renowned for wedding. It is named after the breeder – David Austin from United States of America. This scented rose is appreciated as a wedding rose worldwide and is associated with royal weddings. Take for instance the royal wedding between the Queen and King of Sweden and in Kenya the wedding of Nakumatt owner.

“David Austin takes 14 weeks from the time of planting to harvest. Subsequent harvests take 10 weeks. The flower is then stored in cold rooms with temperatures ranging between 5 and 8 degrees. The flower then takes at most five days from the day of harvest to reach the customer,” Rebecca Muthiani who is a roses manager at Tambuzi Limited says.

David Austin is unique in its own way. It opens like a cabbage and thus is referred to as a garden rose. They have soft colours that make them work harmoniously with each other and with other seasonal cut flowers, to capture the essence of an English country garden.

David Austin collection of garden roses has some favourites from the beginning and six new varieties that capture the beauty and charm of David Austin’s famous garden shrubs.

David Austin is only grown in Africa. Tambuzi Limited in Kieni East, Nyeri County is such a farm in Kenya. Sitting in a land of 67 hectares with 23 hectares dedicated to flower planting, Tambuzi Limited is a pioneer in Kenya flower farming. The farm started with roses and oriental lilies in small capacity but then decided to concentrate on roses.

The land is 1800 metres above the sea level and this provides a suitable condition for flower growth. The business in November, 1996 but established itself fully in 1997. The business has been certified gold by Kenya Flower Corporations. This means it has attained golden standards in labour, environment, procedures and practices that conserve the environment.

“We sell these roses to the outside market especially. This is because they are very expensive. One stem goes for 1 Euro which translates into between Kshs. 110 and 115 depending on exchange rates. If you are not rich or from royal family then it is unlikely you will buy the roses,” says Jackson Waweru who is the Sales and Export Manager at Tambuzi Limited.

Mr. Waweru says that the market for David Austin is mainly in Europe and the Middle East but some countries in Africa like Zimbabwe and South Africa are starting to recognize the beauty of the flower.

“Wedding organizers and florists are enamored by the rose. They prefer it for its scent, designer style and vase life. In peak season which is from May to October in Europe which is in summer presents the best sales of David Austin as it is the time preferred for weddings by couples. Off season is in winter (November to April) sees little of the rose being sold,” Mr. Waweru quips.