Red African Roses Growing in Kenya
Kenya lies on both sides of the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. Countries on or near the equator, like Kenya, benefit from good growing conditions, including 12 hours of daylight all year round. The country's rose flower power is also attributed to its sunny climate, which enables high-quality blossoms to be grown year-round without the need for expensive-to-run greenhouses.
Rainfall peaks in most areas are in November and April. Kenya is the third largest exporter of cut flowers in the world, accounting for around 35 percent of all sales in the European Union. In 2017, Australians imported more than 5.22 million rose stems between February 1 and 14, mostly from Kenya. Assuming typical bouquets of 24 roses, that is 217,500 bouquets sold in two weeks.
Horticulture has been one of the top GDP earners for Kenya contributing 1.45% in 2015. The flower industry in 2015 earned Kenya Shillings 62 billion which equals around 59 million US dollars, exporting 122,825 metric tons.
The main production areas for Kenya’s floriculture are around Lake Naivasha, Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Thika, Kiambu, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Kericho, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gichu and Eastern Kenya. Since the start of February 2018, 5.22 million rose stems had been imported from Kenya, up by nearly 850,000 roses in the same period last year.
Every rose may have a thorn, but it also has a meaning. Sought-after through the ages for it’s simple beauty and intoxicating fragrance, whether imported from Kenya or grown in your backyard, rose colors have very different symbolic meanings.
Rose Color Meanings Growing in Kenyan Gardens
Dark Red Roses.
Similar to the common red rose, the dark red means a deep unconscious beauty. You might consider sending to someone who does not know just how special he or she really is to you.
Green Roses.
The green rose, although rare, is a symbol for fertility. Abundance in not just the material things that life offers but of the intangible things such as newly formed friendships, good health of loved ones among others. Green roses are best given to those whom you wish happiness and many blessings.
Lavender Roses.
Lavender is a rare color for the rose. It incites fantasies and imagination for many. Lavender roses are the perfect choice for those who want to enchant or charm someone. Tradition has it, too, that a lavender rose is used to show feelings of love at first sight.
Orange Roses.
The color orange, with the vivid color seemingly emanating a blazing energy, is often associated with desire, enthusiasm and interest. Like the red rose, the orange rose is also taken as a symbol for passion and excitement, an expression of zealous romance. A bouquet of this variety sends a powerful and meaningful message to the recipient. An orange rose tells someone you are interested in knowing them. The color orange, with the vivid color seemingly emanating a blazing energy, is often associated with desire, enthusiasm and interest.
Peach Roses.
Similar to a warm yellow rose that sends out feelings of warm friendship and companionship, a peach rose is said to symbolize appreciation. It expresses gratitude as well, and at times, sympathy. A bouquet of bright colored - peach roses could make any person happy especially when they are at the lowest times of their lives.
Pink Roses.
The color pink is the symbol for grace and elegance. Often, the pink rose is given to others as a way of saying how much one appreciates the recipient of the rose. Pink roses also convey feelings of gratitude, appreciation and happiness. A bouquet of dark pink roses may be a way of saying how much you appreciate the presence of that loved one in your life. The lighter shade of pink in roses may be a roundabout way of saying you admire the recipient for her grace, gentleness, sweetness and even the joy she brings to you life.
Red Roses.
Fiery red is the color that depicts love, fire or heat and passion. Hence, a red rose being given to a lover is like saying ‘I love you” out loud. Apart from love, passion, heat, and even fire, a red rose can also symbolize beauty and perfection.
Roses Red and White in Color.
Given in conjunction with each other, these two roses combine in one flower bouquet to mean unity and as one.
White Roses.
The reason why the white rose is so often used for weddings, is that a white rose symbolizes happy love. This flower is great to send when you are not apologizing, but merely celebrating your love, hence its use in weddings.
Yellow Roses.
Yellow evokes feelings of friendship or companionship and happiness. A yellow rose is often given to friends to represent joy and friendship. A yellow rose may also bring about the message of starting a new---the promise of a new beginning. Therefore, if you want to be friends with someone, let her know by giving her a yellow rose.
Read about plant and flower meanings as told by the ancient ancestors.
Flower Name |
Ancient Floral Vocabulary |
Absinth |
The Bitterness and Torments of Love |
Acacia |
Love, pure and platonic |
Acanthus |
Love of Fine Arts |
Althea |
Exquisite Sweetness |
Amaranth |
Fidelity and Constancy |
Anemone |
Abandonment |
Angelica |
Gentle Melancholy |
Argentine |
Ingenuity |
Aster |
Elegance |
Balsam |
Impatience |
Basil |
Poverty |
Betony |
Emotion and Surprise |
Bindweed |
Coquetry |
Bluet |
Clearness and Light |
Box |
Firmness and Stoicism |
Bramble |
Injustice and Envy |
Burdock |
Importunity |
Buttercup |
Sarcasm |
Calendula |
Anxiety |
Camellia |
Constancy and Steadfastness |
Carrot |
Good Character |
Cinquefoil |
Maternal Love |
Colchicum |
Bad Character |
Cypress |
Mourning and Grief |
Dahlia |
Sterile Abundance |
Daisy (Easter) |
Candor and Innocence |
Dandelion |
Oracle |
Darnel |
Vice |
Digitalis |
Work |
Dittany |
Discretion |
Elder |
Humility |
Ephemeris |
Transient Happiness |
Everlasting |
Constancy |
Fennel |
Merit |
Fern |
Confidence |
Forget-me-not |
Faithful Remembrance |
Foxglove |
Adulation |
Fuchsia |
Amiability |
Fumitory |
Hatred |
Geranium |
Folly |
Hawthorn |
Sweet Hope |
Heliotrope |
Eternal Love |
Hellebore |
Wit |
Hemlock |
Perfidy |
Holly |
Defense |
Honeysuckle |
Bond of Affection |
Hyacinth |
Amenity |
Hydrangea |
Coldness |
Iris |
Indifference |
Ivy |
Attachment |
Jasmine |
Amiability |
Jonquil |
Amorous Languor |
Jujube-tree |
Relief |
Larkspur |
Open Heart |
Laurel |
Victory and Glory |
Lavender |
Silence |
Lilac |
First Troubles of Love |
Lily |
Purity and Majesty |
Maidenhair |
Bond of Love |
Marjoram |
Consolation |
Marvel of Peru |
Flame of Love |
Mallow |
Maternal Tenderness |
Mint |
Wisdom and Virtue |
Milfoil |
Cure and Recovery |
Moonwort |
Bad Payment |
Myrtle |
Love |
Narcissus |
Self-esteem and Fatuity |
Nettle |
Cruelty |
Olive |
Peace |
Orange-tree |
Virginity, Generosity |
Peony |
Shame |
Periwinkle |
Unalterable Friendship |
Pineapple |
Perfection |
Pink |
Pure and Ardent Love |
Poppy |
Sleep |
Privet |
Youth |
Rose |
Beauty and Love |
Rosemary |
Power of Re-kindling extinct Energy |
Rue |
Fecundity of Fields |
Sage |
Esteem |
Sensitive-plant |
Modesty |
Solanum |
Prodigality |
Spindle-tree |
Ineffaceable Memory |
Strawberry |
Intoxication, Delight |
Thyme |
Spontaneous Emotion |
Trefoil |
Uncertainty |
Tulip |
Grandeur |
Valerian |
Readiness |
Vervain |
Pure Affection |
Viburnum |
Coolness |
Violet |
Modesty |
