The World’s Most Famous Rose-Growing Regions - La Rose Florist - 香港花店

Roses are cultivated in nearly every country, but a handful of regions have become legendary for their climate, soil, and craftsmanship in growing the “queen of flowers.” These are the places where heritage, horticultural science, and beauty meet.

1. Bulgaria – The Rose Valley

Location: Near Kazanlak, in central Bulgaria
Famous For: Rosa damascena (Damask rose)
Highlights:

Known as the “Valley of Roses,” this region has produced rose oil for over 300 years.
Bulgaria supplies up to 70% of the world’s rose oil, used in luxury perfumes.
The combination of mild climate, morning dew, and sandy loam soil makes it perfect for oil-bearing roses.
Visit in: Late May to early June for the Rose Festival, when fields bloom and the air is perfumed with petals.

2. France – Grasse, Provence

Famous For: Centifolia rose (“the cabbage rose”)
Highlights:

The perfume capital of the world, Grasse is synonymous with high-end fragrance houses like Chanel and Dior.
The Centifolia rose, with its complex, rich scent, is hand-harvested each May.
The region’s Mediterranean climate and artisanal distillation techniques preserve the rose’s unique aroma.
Visit in: May for harvest season and the Expo Rose festival.

3. Ecuador – The Andes Highlands

Famous For: Long-stemmed hybrid tea roses
Highlights:

Ecuador’s equatorial sunlight and high altitude (up to 3,000 meters) produce roses with extra-long stems and large, vibrant blooms.
These are the roses you’ll often see in luxury floral arrangements worldwide.
Farms near Quito, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe are leading exporters to Europe, North America, and Asia.
Visit in: Year-round, though farms often open to visitors around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

4. Kenya – Lake Naivasha and Mount Kenya Region

Famous For: Export-quality hybrid tea roses
Highlights:

Kenya is Africa’s largest exporter of roses, shipping mainly to Europe.
The volcanic soil, cool nights, and high altitude (2,000+ meters) yield roses with strong stems and brilliant colors.
Sustainable and fair-trade practices are growing in popularity.
Visit in: June to September – the dry season offers the best viewing.

5. India – Pushkar & Aligarh

Famous For: Damask and desi roses used in attar (traditional perfume) and rose water
Highlights:

Pushkar (Rajasthan) and Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh) are traditional rose distillation centers.
The Rosa damascena thrives in India’s dry yet cool winter climate.
The rose water and attar (rose essence oil) produced here are prized for purity and depth of fragrance.
Visit in: February to March, when the rose fields bloom before distillation season.

6. Iran – Kashan

Famous For: Damask rose and rosewater production
Highlights:

Kashan’s rose gardens date back over a millennium.
The annual Golabgiri Festival (Rose Water Festival) in May celebrates rose distillation traditions.
Iranian rosewater is used in culinary, cosmetic, and spiritual rituals.
Visit in: May for the harvest and distillation season.

7. Morocco – El Kelaa M’Gouna, the “Valley of Roses”

Famous For: Damask roses for cosmetics and rosewater
Highlights:

Nestled at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, this Moroccan valley bursts into bloom each April and May.
Known for its Rose Festival, traditional music, and pink-hued landscapes.
The roses are used in perfumes and skincare, especially in local cooperatives run by women.
Visit in: Early May for the Fête des Roses.

8. United States – California & Oregon

Famous For: Garden roses, floribundas, and experimental hybrids
Highlights:

California’s temperate coastal zones and Oregon’s Willamette Valley are major breeding and growing centers.
The Rose Hills Memorial Park in Los Angeles and Portland’s International Rose Test Garden showcase thousands of varieties.
Portland is nicknamed “The City of Roses.”
Visit in: Late spring to early summer for peak bloom season.

9. England – Kent and Hampshire

Famous For: English garden roses (David Austin roses)
Highlights:

England’s mild, wet climate produces lush, fragrant roses.
David Austin’s nursery in Shropshire created hybrids that blend old-fashioned fragrance with modern resilience.
These roses are beloved by gardeners and featured in Chelsea Flower Show displays.
Visit in: June for the Chelsea Flower Show or July for peak garden displays.

10. Japan – Ibaraki & Kanagawa

Famous For: Precision breeding and aesthetic rose gardens
Highlights:

Japanese rose cultivation focuses on form, color harmony, and longevity.
The Ibaraki Flower Park and Yokohama English Garden are world-renowned for their design and variety.
Local breeders have created unique hybrids tailored to Japan’s humid climate.
Visit in: May to June and October to November for spring and autumn blooms.

Region	Famous For	Best Visiting Time
Bulgaria (Kazanlak)	Damask rose & rose oil	May–June
France (Grasse)	Centifolia rose & perfume	May
Ecuador (Andes)	Long-stemmed roses	Year-round
Kenya (Naivasha)	Export roses	June–Sept
India (Pushkar)	Rose water & attar	Feb–March
Iran (Kashan)	Rosewater festival	May
Morocco (El Kelaa M’Gouna)	Rose Festival	May
USA (California, Oregon)	Garden roses & hybrids	May–July
England (Kent, Shropshire)	English garden roses	June–July
Japan (Ibaraki, Kanagawa)	Aesthetic hybrid roses	May–June, Oct–Nov