Tour of Freiland rose growers

Field-grown roses are cultivated outdoors in Germany. Macy and Marco visited two growers to explore this unique method.

A field-grown rose is no ordinary rose — it is cultivated outdoors, in the open air, on German soil. Curious to see how that works, our marketing colleague Macy and rose buyer Marco travelled to Germany. They visited two dedicated growers and now take you along on their journey to learn more about this special kind of rose cultivation.

Natural, sustainable and nostalgic

What is a Freiland Rose?

Freiland roses are grown outdoors, under open skies. Ideal for those who love working with natural and sustainable products. These roses are known for their rich fragrance and nostalgic bloom shape.

Freiland roses

Want to learn more about Freiland roses? Read our full blog.

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Hof Kley Nursery

Seven hectares of rose-growing passion

In Bornheim, Germany, Marco and Macy visited Hof Kley. Since 2017, Karl-Heinz and Isabella Kley have grown Freiland roses on seven hectares of land. They stand out for their use of a large cold storage and neat packaging — something few other growers do.

Certified and Sustainable

Local quality with a seal of approval

Hof Kley invests heavily in sustainable growing. All plants carry the ‘German horticultural produce’ label — a certified quality mark for regional growers who meet strict quality and sustainability standards.

A surprising combination

Magnolia trees support rose quality

Freiland rose season runs from May to September. Outside that period, Hof Kley experiments with other crops. They discovered that growing magnolia near the roses improves the rose quality by offering natural wind protection.

Visit to Schittko

Grower, wholesaler and mobile shop

Marco and Macy continued their journey to Schittko in Remagen. Since 2017, Max and Friedrich Schittko have led this family business — combining a rose nursery, flower wholesale, and mobile trade.

Schittko Wholesale

40+ years of floral expertise

Schittko supplies fresh cut flowers to florists via the wholesale markets in Bonn and Koblenz. With decades of experience, they’re a trusted name in the industry.

Schittko Rose Fields

12 hectares, open-air and tunnel-grown

Schittko grows Freiland roses on 12 hectares, both in the open field and in tunnels. They operate sustainably and are energy-neutral — generating their own power for flower processing and packing.

Working smarter with machines

Mechanisation for efficiency

To manage large fields and long rows, Schittko has started using machinery. This requires more space between plants, which means fewer roses per square metre, but much greater efficiency.

Popular Variety

Piano rose a florist favourite

During their Freiland tour, both growers mentioned that the Piano variety is especially popular with florists. Great news: this customer favourite is available from our stock!

Stories from passionate growers

Meet the grower