Own-root vs Budded Roses: Why the Market Is Shifting

Why is the market turning back?

Why did budding become the foundation of rose production for decades, and why is the market now turning back towards own-root roses? 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 point 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 did growers start budding, and why are they now returning to own-root roses?

Every rose bush carries not only flowers, but history as well. We show you 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 from what, and how, a rose becomes what it is.

When did roses enter commercial trade?

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

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

Layering: This was the oldest and most straightforward method. Rose shoots were bent down to the ground, covered with soil, then separated once roots had formed. This took a long time but gave reliable results. Roses in this way developed on their own roots.
Division: Used mainly for species that tended to form clumps and root suckers. The plant was lifted and divided into several parts – producing several individuals from a single mother plant. The new plant in this case also continued to grow on its own roots.
Cuttings: Although today this is one of the main methods for producing own-root roses, at that time it was used only rarely because reliable rooting technology was not widely available.
Seeds: Used for breeding purposes, since seed-grown roses showed great variation in appearance. Variety uniformity was not guaranteed, so it was of limited use in production.

Turning point: 1867 – the beginning of modern roses

This was the year the world’s first officially recognised hybrid tea rose, ‘La France’, appeared. It brought not only a new flower form and fragrance, but also launched a completely new era in commercial rose growing. From this point onwards, the rose became not only an ornamental plant but a mass product – surrounded by a whole network of nurseries, breeders and growers.

What made this possible?

Varieties that were easy to propagate and produced large flowers.
A transportable format (bare-root plants).
Budding as an industrial technology – a single bud (eye) of the cultivated rose was inserted onto a wild rose rootstock (e.g. Rosa canina); at that technological level this was the best way to propagate identical varieties quickly.
Market demand, first from ornamental gardens and later from public plantings.

Cultivation – the beginning of nursery rose fields

Roses started to be sold as ornamental plants on the markets of larger towns, first in pots and later as bare-root plants. Open-field growing was the norm, and plants were often sold by travelling gardeners or nursery workers at fairs and markets.

By the mid-19th century, a seasonal cycle of shipping and sales had developed: lifting in autumn, transporting in winter, planting in spring. By the second half of the 19th century, roses had become a mass-produced, saleable commodity. From then on it was no longer only about beauty, but also about how to produce them efficiently, cheaply and in a transportable form, and how to deliver them to the customer.

The weak point of the budded rose: the budding union

The budding point, where the cultivated rose bud is joined to the rootstock, is sensitive and vulnerable. This part:

can be easily damaged by frost,
is prone to physical damage,
may become congested and rot under weeds or soil cover,
may also weaken over time.

The different genetics of the root and the shoot can cause biological imbalance in the long term, especially in older plants. Certain varieties have a tendency to “separate” from the rootstock after some years.

Conscious 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 just protection: once the cultivated part starts to form its own roots, the plant returns to an “own-root” state.

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

In reality this can also be seen as retraining:

it increases the plant’s independence and ability to regenerate,
its lifespan may be extended,
diseases and weaknesses originating from the rootstock can be avoided.

21st-century constraints – and a new role

In recent decades, rose growing and trading have been transformed from the ground up. The once dominant budded rose is facing more and more challenges – as a result of market, social and technological changes.

What has changed?

Labour shortages: budding requires a great deal of manual work. In a single season tens of thousands of buds need to be inserted, pruned back and tended, all of which demand precise, skilled labour – while the pool of trained workers is shrinking.
Broader product range, but lower volumes: in the past, large runs were produced from just 5–10 rose varieties. Today customers look for 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 with other species.
Generational change in home gardens: many new garden owners are unfamiliar with the needs of budded roses (e.g. protection of the budding union, dieback, cutting out rootstock growth). They have little time and are looking for simpler solutions.
The spread of online shopping: budded bare-root roses have a short shipping and storage window. Cold storage can extend this period, but often at the cost of quality (loss of moisture, root damage, stress).

The rediscovery of the own-root rose

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

Storability: in containers they can be stored and transported without needing a dormant period.
Variety range: more flexible, new varieties can be introduced more quickly without waiting years for budding onto rootstocks.
User-friendly: they do not require special protection or pruning back, which makes them more attractive to 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 quantities per variety 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 user and more flexible in distribution. The rose market now recognises them as a reform product – not a step backwards, but a response to the challenges of our time.

Why is the market turning 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 that the business model of the budded (grafted/budded onto rootstock), typically bare-root rose is increasingly at odds, in several sales channels, with today’s expectations of flexibility, logistics and user experience. At the same time, the own-root (mostly container-grown) rose is in many situations easier to plan for, delivers more consistent quality and carries less risk for the customer.

1) Why did budding become the “industrial standard” for such a long time?

As modern roses spread widely, from the end of the 19th century roses became a genuine mass-market product. At that time budding was the best tool to achieve this, because it:

enabled rapid and true-to-type propagation in large quantities,
created a seasonal cycle for the transportable bare-root product (lifting–storage–shipping–planting),
and in many cases the rootstock supported initial establishment and adaptation to certain soil and climate conditions.

This system worked best when relatively few varieties were produced in large runs, and when trade was mainly offline and strongly seasonal.

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

Budding is a high-quality technology, but it is labour-intensive and in several steps depends heavily on manual work. Today this is an increasing constraint:

Labour shortages and wage pressure: budding requires trained, precise seasonal workers.
More varieties, smaller batches: customers want a broad selection in smaller lots; as a result, unit costs rise.
Planning and risk: more manual steps mean more possible errors and more organisational exposure.

The consequence: budding can still be efficient for very large, uniform batches, but in many channels today’s 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 flexible to handle. For bare-root plants tied to the dormant season, the selling window is often very narrow, and longer storage can pose quality risks (loss of moisture, stress on the roots, general stress).

The container model, by contrast, can often be sold over a longer period and adapted more easily to delivery logistics. This is particularly important where customers do not buy within a single “season window”, but at the moment they make their decision.

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

The budding union (the junction between rootstock and scion) is a biologically and physically sensitive connection. In practice, several different problems can converge at this single point:

Frost damage and vulnerability: the union is more likely to be damaged under unfavourable conditions.
Need for intervention: mulching, planting depth, managing dieback – all require knowledge and attention.
Rootstock shoots: these must be regularly recognised and removed, a frequent source of user error.

This is not a “fault” of budding, but an inherent feature of the technology: it shifts more risk and more tasks onto the user.

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

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

From the grower’s point of view:

Fewer points critically dependent on manual work, so in many cases more reliable planning.
In operations with smaller batches and a wide range of varieties, often more flexible stock management.
In container systems, the plant’s condition can in many cases be better controlled up to dispatch.

From the user’s point of view:

No rootstock sucker problem.
If the plant dies back, regeneration occurs from the same variety.
Fewer “rules” and fewer potential mistakes – a more user-friendly experience.

6) Nuance: budded roses still have their place

Budded roses remain justified and competitive in certain situations: for large, uniform batches, in special soil and climate conditions, or where maintenance is professional and care routines are firmly in place. The essence of the change is therefore not a verdict on the technology, but a shift in market emphasis.

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

If you prefer simpler care and less risk, in many cases own-root roses are the clearer choice.
If you are planting in particularly challenging conditions, it is worth assessing professionally whether the advantages of a rootstock will add real benefit.

In summary: own-root roses move into the foreground wherever the market rewards flexibility, longer selling periods, more stable delivery condition and a more user-friendly experience. This is not a step backwards, but a modern answer to today’s challenges.

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

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

when budding is an advantage and when the budding union is a risk,
what the “market shift” towards own roots means (with horticultural and economic reasons),
how care differs (frost, pruning, rootstock shoots, regeneration),
container-grown and bare-root roses: when it is worth choosing each,
which planting depth, position and basic care we recommend in your case.

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

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

Own-root vs Budded Roses: Why the Market Is Shifting – PharmaRosa®