Roses in Almaty

Roses with delivery in Almaty: varieties, imports through the airport, and freshness from the cut

Almaty is Kazakhstan's southern flower gateway. Most of the rose arrives here by air: Ecuador and Colombia supply the large-headed varieties, Kenya a hardy mid-length rose, and the Netherlands the Dutch classics and garden roses. The lots pass through Almaty airport and move out to florists from the wholesale depots. The flow is steady all year round, so empty shelves in this category are rare.

The category covers single-variety bouquets, mixed arrangements, and single stems for no occasion at all. It also includes boxes, baskets, and large armfuls of 25, 51, and 101 stems — a format that, for a gift, often matters as much as the variety.

Which varieties to choose

We keep four working groups on the shelf: Ecuadorian large-headed roses, the Kenyan rose, Dutch classics, and English garden roses by David Austin. Each solves its own task — from an anniversary statement to an intimate date-night bouquet.

• Freedom, Explorer, Mondial — large-headed flagships from Ecuador and Colombia. Stem 70–90 cm, dense bud, a vase life of 10–14 days with proper care.
• Avalanche+, Red Naomi, Vendela — the Dutch classics. Mid-sized bud of 5–7 cm, a rich palette, a reliable workhorse for any task.
• Juliet, Patience — David Austin English garden roses. Cup-shaped, densely petalled, with a myrrh and apricot fragrance. Ideal for the bridal bouquet.
• Kenyan roses — medium stem length, a tight bud, good value for the freshness. A workhorse for everyday gifts and large armfuls.
• Spray roses — several buds on a single stem. Suited to airy arrangements and smaller gifts.

Occasions and stem count

One flower is a gentle gesture of attention. Three: a friendly thank-you. Seven and nine: a romantic gift. Twenty-five reads as a major declaration; 51 and 101 are serious gestures for an anniversary, an engagement, or a milestone. Here, joyful occasions call for an odd number of flowers, while an even number is kept for days of mourning — worth keeping in mind when you order.

Almaty's main floral peaks are 8 March and Valentine's Day on 14 February. Nauryz on 21–22 March stands apart: a spring holiday for which the city is practically buried in flowers. On 1 September, the Day of Knowledge, flowers go to teachers, and September also brings Mother's Day. For dates like these, place the order ahead of time.

Freshness and logistics

The imported rose flies in from Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and the Netherlands, clears customs at Almaty airport, and moves through the flower wholesale trade. The path from the plantation is 4–7 days, but with proper cold the bud holds 10–14 days in the vase. The cut is kept on a cold chain from the very start: the fewer the breaks, the longer the flower lives.

Until assembly, bouquets are kept in cold storage at +4…+6°C. Before dispatch, a florist checks each lot: a firm bud, a clean leaf, an even cut. Tired stems don't make it into the shipment.

"In Almaty almost the entire rose is imported, and what decides it isn't the country on the price tag but the cold on the road. A lot carried with breaks in the chain gives out within a couple of days. A firm bud and scent are the best test of quality — not the price."

— Aigerim Nurlanova, florist with 12 years of experience

Delivery specifics

Almaty lies at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau, and the climate is sharply continental. Summer is hot, +28–35°C, rising to +38°C in heat waves. Winter is cold and snowy, around −5 to −12°C, dropping below −20°C in hard frosts. There are marked temperature swings between day and night, as well as between seasons. In summer we move roses in insulated boxes and add moisture-retention gel at the stems; in winter we carry them in insulated bags so the bud isn't nipped by the frost.

We cover all the key districts: Medeu, Bostandyk, Almaly, Auezov, Turksib, Zhetysu, Alatau, and Nauryzbai. Prices in the catalogue are in tenge (KZT, ₸), paid by card online. For 8 March, Nauryz, and Valentine's Day we work at full stretch — order 3–5 days ahead, and a week ahead at the peak.

Care at home

After delivery, refresh the cut at a 45° angle, remove the leaves below the waterline, and place the roses in a clean vase with cool water. Change the water every two days and add a Chrysal sachet or a pinch of sugar. Keep them away from direct sun and ripening fruit — ethylene shortens vase life by a third.

In summer in Almaty, the bouquet's main enemy is the dry heat: in the scorch, the petals wilt and dehydrate quickly. Keep the roses in the coolest room, away from the direct flow of the air conditioner. On days above +35°C, move the bouquet to the refrigerator overnight — that adds 3–5 days. In winter, don't set the vase right against a radiator.

Roses are a flexible category: they suit a colleague's birthday, a wedding anniversary, a bridal bouquet, or a gift for a hospital discharge. We match variety, colour, and format to the specific occasion — message our manager and we'll help build an arrangement that hits the mark.