Some French flower power

Rose expert nurtures a rose garden in Shanghai, Tang Zhihao reports.

Rose breeder Benoit Hochart is excited to see French roses bloom in the garden in front of the Rhone-Alpes Pavilion in the Expo Garden - a result he sees as a milestone in his rose-breeding career.

The 46-year-old French horticultural expert was invited by pavilion operators to create a rose garden in a 670-square-meter plot of land at the pavilion during the Expo.

"It was a big challenge," said Hochart, who lost his left arm in an accident decades ago. "I have never tried to plant roses outside of Europe."

Hochart said his major concerns were the weather and soil conditions in Shanghai, as he originally thought that they might be not suitable for certain types of roses.

"Shanghai is a city that experiences a lot of humidity and extended periods of hot weather in summer. These factors are generally not good for growing French roses," said Hochart.

Hochart came to Shanghai in October 2009 to familiarize himself with growing conditions in Shanghai, well before the seedlings arrived.

He analyzed the soil to identify mineral elements and provide balanced nutrient solutions and to prevent his roses from contracting diseases.

After the young roses were transplanted from a suburban area of Shanghai to the Expo Garden, he visited the pavilion almost everyday to observe the growth patterns of the flowers. He also spent much time pruning and removing dead stems from the garden.

"It is hard for me to adjust to a life without roses," said Hochart. "They have become a part of my life."

Hochart recalled his excitement when he received an invitation from the Rhone-Alpes Pavilion to create the garden.

"Not everyone gets a chance to plant roses in China, and obtain valuable experiences on rose growing and breeding in a different place," said Hochart.

Hochart considered this project as an opportunity to promote rose-planting technology in Rhone-Alpes, a region that supplies up to 50 per cent French roses every year.

"Chinese people are interested to know more about roses," said Hochart. "Some sub-species are rarely seen in Shanghai, so we have taken this opportunity to introduce more French roses to visitors."

Hochart started to study rose cultivations in 1983 when he met his garden landscaping course instructor. The instructor introduced Hochart to rose cultivation and he then made a decision to focus on the breeding of roses.

Engaged in rose breeding for nearly three decades, Hochart has created three rose sub-species. He said he has planned to take one step further and create new varieties in China.

"I have contacted experts from a Shanghai-based landscape gardening research institute and we are cooperating," said Hochart.

Hochart has been in Shanghai for more than six months and says he enjoys it here - so much that he is even considering opening his own flower business in the city when Expo finishes.

Not only does he plan to introduce more French roses to China, he will also bring lavenders from Provence in France to China and will use Kunming, Yunnan province, as the breeding base because of the milder weather and less rain.