Own-root Roses: Why the Market Shifts from Budded

Why is the market turning back?

Why did budding become the basis of rose cultivation for decades, and why is the market now once again turning back towards own-root production? On this page we guide you through the history of the rose trade: from the birth of modern varieties to bare-root logistics and the online era. You will discover why the budding union is a horticultural “weak spot” and what this means for you in your garden. On what basis do you choose your roses?

How did the rose change from a closely guarded treasure of castle gardens into the most popular flower in garden centres and home gardens? Why was budding introduced, and why are growers now returning to own-root roses?

A rose plant carries not only flowers, but history as well. We show the path that led to the birth of modern roses, the reasons behind the changes in growing techniques, and why it is still important for you today to know what a rose is made from and how it becomes what it is.

When did roses first enter trade?

The earliest documented rose trade dates back to the 17th–18th century, when rose breeding and collecting were no longer privileges reserved only for the nobility but became increasingly accessible to the middle classes. In Europe, France and England were the first countries where nurseries emerged that propagated roses specifically for sale.

How were roses propagated and grown in the 17th–19th century?

Layering: This was the oldest and most straightforward method. Rose shoots were bent down to the soil, covered with earth and then separated once roots had formed. It took a long time, but gave reliable results. In this way roses grew on their own roots.
Division: Used mainly for species that readily form clumps and suckers. The plant was lifted and divided into sections – several plants were obtained from a single mother plant. The new plants continued to grow on their own roots.
Cuttings: Although today this is one of the main propagation methods for own-root roses, at that time it was used less frequently because rooting technology was not widely available.
Seed propagation: Used for breeding purposes, as seed-grown roses produced very diverse offspring. Variety identity was not guaranteed, so this method was of limited use in commercial production.

Turning point: 1867 – the beginning of modern roses

This was the year when the world’s first officially recognised hybrid tea rose, ‘La France’, appeared. It not only brought a new type of flower form and fragrance, but also ushered in a completely new era in commercial rose growing. From this point on, the rose became not just an ornamental plant but a mass-market product – with a whole network of nurseries, breeders and gardeners built around it.

What made this possible?

Varieties with large flowers that could be propagated easily.
A transportable format (bare-root plants).
Budding as an industrial-scale technology – a single bud (eye) of the cultivated variety was inserted onto a wild rose rootstock (e.g. Rosa canina); this was the best method available at the time for fast, true-to-type propagation.
Market demand, first for ornamental gardens and later for public spaces.

Cultivation – the beginning of nursery rose fields

Roses began to be sold as ornamental nursery plants at markets in larger towns and cities, first in pots and later as bare-root plants. Open-field cultivation was the norm, and the plants were often sold at fairs and markets by itinerant gardeners or nursery workers.

By the mid-19th century a seasonal cycle of shipping and sales had developed: lifting in autumn, shipping in winter, planting in spring. By the second half of the 19th century the rose had become a mass-produced, marketable commodity. From then on it was not only about beauty, but also about how to produce roses efficiently, cheaply and in a transportable form, and how to deliver them to the buyer.

The weak point of budded roses: the budding union

The budding union, where the bud of the cultivated rose joins the rootstock, is sensitive and vulnerable. This part can:

be easily damaged by frost,
be prone to physical injury,
become congested and prone to rot under weeds or heavy mulching,
weaken over time.

The different genetics of the roots and shoots can cause long-term biological imbalance, especially in older plants. Some varieties tend to “detach” from the rootstock after a number of years.

Protection or “retraining”?

Many gardeners now try to protect the cultivated part by planting the budding union below soil level. But this is more than protection: if the cultivated part develops its own roots, the plant returns to an “own-root” state.

This is a deliberate cultivation decision: the rose switches to its own roots and becomes independent of the rootstock.

In reality this can also be seen as a form of retraining:

it increases the plant’s self-sufficiency and ability to regenerate,
it can extend the plant’s lifespan,
diseases and weaknesses arising from the rootstock can be avoided.

21st-century limits – and a new role

In recent decades rose production and trade have changed fundamentally. The once dominant budded rose is facing more and more challenges – as a result of market, social and technological change.

What has changed?

Labour shortage: budding requires a great deal of manual work. In a single season, inserting, pruning back and tending tens of thousands of buds calls for precise skilled labour – at a time when experienced workers are increasingly scarce.
Broader product range but lower quantities: in the past, large runs were produced from 5–10 varieties. Today, customers want a wide range of varieties in smaller quantities, which makes budding more expensive per plant and less economical. The ornamental plant range has also expanded to include many other species.
Generational change in home gardens: new garden owners often do not know the specific needs of budded roses (e.g. protecting the budding union, dealing with die-back, pruning out rootstock shoots). They have less time and seek easier solutions.
The rise of online shopping: bare-root budded roses have a short shipping and storage window. Cold storage can extend this period but often reduces quality (water loss, root damage, stress).

Rediscovering own-root roses

Modern technology has made it possible to propagate own-root roses reliably and in large volumes.

Storability: in containers they can be stored and transported without the need for a dormant period.
Variety range: more flexible, with new varieties introduced more quickly – there is no need to wait years for rootstocks for budding.
User-friendly: they do not require special protection and pruning back, which makes them more attractive for today’s buyers.
Quality and availability: own-root roses are in balance with modern market expectations: simpler, more accessible and more reliable.

The age of the budded rose is fading

The budded rose, which is economical only when produced in large, variety-specific quantities and requires a great deal of manual work, fits less and less with the needs of today’s ornamental plant market. Own-root roses, by contrast, are easier to grow, simpler for the end user and more flexible in terms of distribution. Today the rose market recognises them as a reform product – not a step backwards, but a response to the challenges of our time.

Why is the market turning back towards own-root roses?

When we say that “the age of the budded rose is fading”, we are not questioning the professional value of budding. The key point is rather that the business model of the budded (grafted/budded onto rootstock), typically bare-root rose is becoming less and less suited, in many sales channels, to today’s expectations of flexibility, logistics and user experience. At the same time, in many situations the own-root (usually container-grown) rose is easier to plan with, delivers more stable quality and carries less risk for the customer.

1) Why did budding become the “industrial standard” for so long?

With the mass spread of modern roses, from the end of the 19th century onwards the rose became a genuine mass-market product. At that time budding was the best tool for this because:

it enabled fast, true-to-type propagation on a large scale,
it formed the basis of a transportable bare-root product model with a seasonal cycle (lifting–storage–shipping–planting),
the rootstock often supported early growth and adaptation in certain soil and climate conditions.

This system worked best when relatively few varieties were produced in large series and when trade operated mainly in an offline, strongly seasonal way.

2) What has changed for growers in the 21st century?

Budding is a high-quality technology, but it is labour-intensive and at several stages depends heavily on manual work. Today this is a growing constraint:

Labour shortages and rising wage costs: budding requires trained, precise seasonal workers.
More varieties, smaller batch sizes: customers expect a wide choice in smaller quantities, which raises unit costs.
Planning and risk: more steps involving manual work mean more scope for error and organisational vulnerability.

The result: budding can still be efficient for very large, uniform batches, but in many areas the modern market no longer rewards this production logic.

3) What has changed in trade and logistics?

Online sales and fast, order-driven fulfilment favour product formats that are easy to handle flexibly. For bare-root plants, the dormant-season sales window is often very narrow, and extended storage can compromise quality (water loss, root stress and general decline).

The container model, by contrast, can often be sold over a longer period and can be more closely aligned with shipping patterns. This is particularly important in markets where customers do not necessarily purchase within a strict “season”, but when they make the decision.

4) Professional horticultural point: the budding union as a risk area

The budding union (the junction between rootstock and scion) is a biologically and physically sensitive connection. In practice it can concentrate several problems in a single point:

Frost damage and vulnerability: the junction is more easily damaged in unfavourable conditions.
Need for intervention: covering, planting depth and dealing with die-back all require knowledge and ongoing attention.
Rootstock shoots: these must be recognised and removed regularly – a frequent source of user error.

This is not a “fault” of budding itself, but a practical reality of the technique: it shifts more risk and more tasks onto the gardener.

5) Why is the own-root rose a “reform product”?

The rise of own-root roses is not a fashion trend, but a response to today’s conditions:

From the grower’s side:

Fewer “critical manual” stages, often resulting in more predictable planning.
For smaller batches with a wide range of varieties, it often allows more flexible stock management.
In container systems the plant’s condition is in many cases easier to control up to dispatch.

From the user’s side:

No issues with rootstock suckers.
If the plant is cut back by frost, it regenerates from the same variety.
Fewer “rules” and fewer potential mistakes – a more user-friendly experience.

6) Nuance: there is still a place for budded roses

Budded roses can still be justified and competitive in certain situations: for large, uniform batches, in special soil and climate conditions, or where maintenance is carried out by professionals and there is a high level of care. The change, therefore, is not a judgement on the technology, but a shift in market emphasis.

7) What should you take away from this as a garden owner?

If you are looking for easier care and lower risk, in many cases own-root roses are a more straightforward choice.
If you are planting in particularly challenging conditions, it is worth considering from a professional perspective whether the advantages of a rootstock might offer real benefits.

In summary: own-root roses come to the fore where the market rewards flexibility, a longer sales window, more stable shipping condition and a more user-friendly experience. This is not a step backwards, but a modern response to current challenges.

Do you have a question about the difference between budded and own-root roses?

We help you see clearly which solution is better for your garden and your goals.

when budding is an advantage and when the budding union becomes a risk,
what the “market shift” towards own roots means (with both horticultural and economic reasons),
how care differs (frost, pruning back, rootstock shoots, regeneration),
container-grown and bare-root roses: when to choose which,
what planting depth, position and basic care are recommended in your situation.

Question by e-mail Or write to us directly: [email protected]

PharmaRosa® Own-root – a new era
The new generation of rose growing.

Own-root Roses: Why the Market Shifts from Budded – PharmaRosa®