Part One: Beyond the Safari – Kenya’s Blossoming Floral Industry

Meet Bryan Swann, Creative Director and Senior Floral Designer at Karin’s Florist.

Bryan holds the prestigious European Master Certification (EMC), a distinction awarded to florists with exceptional skill, artistry, and understanding of floral design on a global level. With a passion for education, sustainability, and innovation, Bryan brings international experience and creative excellence to everything he does.

In July 2025, Bryan embarked on a unique journey to Kenya with the EMC Educational Team. What began as a professional development opportunity quickly became a powerful source of inspiration — from hands-on design workshops using locally grown florals to the unforgettable landscapes and wildlife of East Africa.

In this three-part blog series, Bryan shares his experience in Kenya:

  • exploring world-class flower farms in the Rift Valley,

  • collaborating with fellow designers in stunning natural settings, and

  • concluding the trip with a once-in-a-lifetime safari adventure.

Part One: Beyond the Safari – Kenya’s Blossoming Floral Industry

When most people think about a trip to Kenya, safari comes to mind. Searching for the “Big Five” — lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo — from the back of a van crossing the savannah. But my trip had a different focus (at least at first): flowers.

In July 2025, I joined fellow EMC-certified designers for a team-building and educational experience in Kenya’s Rift Valley, a region known not just for its stunning scenery but also for its fast-growing floral industry.

Flower Farming in the Rift Valley

The Rift ValleyThe Rift Valley, located just south of the equator, offers ideal conditions for flower farming: 12 hours of sunlight a day, two rainy seasons, and elevations between 1,900–2,400 meters.

Kenya’s flower industry has become a multi-billion-dollar enterprise — and it’s still expanding. Roses are the country’s top floral export, primarily shipped to Europe and Asia.

Of the 250 million roses grown globally for Valentine’s Day, 25 million came from Kenya and went to Qatar alone.

Interplant Roses – Breeding Beauty

Our first stop was Interplant Roses in Naivasha. This company breeds roses in the Netherlands, then grows and tests them in Kenya. The process from pollination to marketable flower can take years, with decisions based on color, shape, fragrance, and vase life.

Spray roses at Interplant Roses Interplant was the pioneer of spray roses, and today they offer five distinct types — including the trendy #Ashtag. For our workshop, EMC designers used Interplant’s roses (along with flowers from upcoming farms) to create designs based on EMC’s annual Trends Report.

We designed under a canopy of acacia trees, surrounded by curious weaver birds — a magical, open-air creative space.

under the acacia treeunder the acacia treeGlassware blown for our workshop

Next in Part Two: Designing with Purpose – Sustainability and Creativity in Kenya