GENERAL INFO

What is breeding, really?

Breeding is the art and science of creating new plant varieties with carefully selected traits. When most people think of a rose, their mind goes straight to the flower—but a rose is much more than its color or shape. Today’s discerning consumers also value traits like frost and drought tolerance, disease resistance, and efficient use of water and nutrients.

At Pheno Geno Roses, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our breeding programs combine the best of traditional hand-pollination methods with cutting-edge scientific techniques. While terms like “genetics” or “modern breeding” may sometimes sound like genetic modification, PGR wants to be clear: our mission is rooted in sustainability and diversity. Every rose we create is crafted using careful, natural hand-pollination—never through transgenic manipulation.

Science meets creativity

To develop truly remarkable roses, we often look at them from a molecular perspective. By studying the rose genome and locating specific genes, we can identify traits of interest and understand how they are passed to future generations. Using molecular markers in breeding and selection allows us to work more efficiently and predict the outcome of each cross.

Our commitment to science has already borne fruit. The Winterjewel^® collection, developed using Marker Assisted Breeding (MAS), stands out as a unique achievement in the world of roses.

Innovation beyond the garden

We are also pioneering the use of rose petals and hips as a new source of food. Our edible rose collection has become a hallmark of the PGR brand, with varieties enjoyed across Europe and beyond.

And our exploration doesn’t stop there—our research into fragrance compounds and essential oils in rose flowers has been highly successful, with the first aromatic varieties already delighting the market.

If you are interested in PGR licenses, or in obtaining our genetic and propagation material, we invite you to contact us for more information.