Roses in Bogota

Roses with delivery in Bogota: the Savanna farms, varieties, and freshness from the cut

Bogotá has a rare advantage over almost any other city: the rose grows right outside its limits. The Sabana de Bogotá — the high plateau around the capital — is one of the largest rose regions on the planet. The farms sit in Facatativá, Madrid, Funza, El Rosal, Tocancipá, Tenjo, and Chía, an hour from the centre. Colombia is the world's second-largest cut-flower exporter and the leading rose supplier to the United States. What flies from here across half the world reaches a recipient in Chapinero the day after the cut.

An altitude of 2,600 metres and the steady cool of the plateau give the Colombian rose what it is famous for: a long, strong stem, a large head, and saturated colour. The category covers single-variety bouquets, mixed arrangements, single stems for no occasion at all, plus boxes, baskets, and large armfuls. Here they count by the dozen (docena) and in larger sets of 24, 50, and 100 — a format that, for a gift, often matters as much as the variety.

Which varieties to choose

We keep three working groups on the shelf: local large-headed roses from the Savanna, soft pastel varieties, 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 — the flagships of the Colombian farms. Stem 70–90 cm, dense bud, a vase life of 10–14 days with proper care. Freedom is the Savanna's best-selling red.
• Vendela, Playa Blanca, Mondial — cream-white classics, the backbone of wedding bouquets. Mid-sized bud, a reliable choice for any task.
• Quicksand, Mother of Pearl — dusty-pink and powdery tones, the fashionable nude palette.
• Juliet, Patience — David Austin English garden roses. Cup-shaped, densely petalled, with a myrrh and apricot fragrance. Ideal for the bridal bouquet.
• Spray roses — several buds on a single stem, also locally grown. 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. A dozen and 24 read as a classic declaration; 50 and 100 are serious gestures for an anniversary, an engagement, or a milestone.

Colombia's main floral peaks are Día de la Madre (the second Sunday of May) and Día del Amor y la Amistad (the third Saturday of September), when roses are given especially freely. Add 8 March and Día del Padre on the third Sunday of June. For dates like these, place the order ahead of time.

Freshness and logistics

A rose's journey in Bogotá is about the shortest in the world. From the cut on a Savanna farm to a recipient in Usaquén or Rosales takes a day. The cool plateau climate works in our favour: the flower barely tires on the road, and the cold chain holds naturally. Bouquets are kept in cold storage at +4…+6°C until assembly.

We import the minimum — mainly garden-rose varieties and a rare palette the local farms don't grow. Everything else is our own cut. That is exactly why a rose in the capital holds a confident 10–14 days in the vase.

"The Bogotá buyer is used to a good rose — they grew up next to the farms. Freshness here is tested by hand: a firm bud, a hard neck below the head, a cool stem. Price comes second. The city's main advantage is that the flower never has time to tire on the road."

— Catalina Moreno, florist with 12 years of experience

Delivery specifics

Bogotá's climate is high-altitude and cool year-round. The day is usually +18…+20°C, the night drops to +6…+9°C, and there is no hot season at all. These are ideal conditions for the rose. The year splits into two rainy periods (April–May and October–November) and two drier ones. The main challenge isn't heat but downpours: in the rain we reinforce the packaging so the box and kraft don't get soaked en route.

We cover all the key districts: Usaquén, Chapinero, Chicó, Rosales, Teusaquillo, La Candelaria, Cedritos, Zona Rosa, Parque de la 93, and Salitre. Prices in the catalogue are in Colombian pesos (COP, $), paid by card online. For Día de la Madre and Día del Amor y la Amistad we work at full stretch — order 3–5 days ahead.

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 Bogota, the cool itself helps the bouquet: at 2,600 metres a rose holds longer than in a hot city. Watch two local quirks — dry air in the dry season and strong midday sun coming through the windows. Keep the vase out of the direct beam, and if the air is parched, mist the buds once a day with a sprayer.

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.