Press release

Meise Botanic Garden celebrates very first Rose Festival

Meise, [26 May 2026] – Meise Botanic Garden invites visitors of all ages to a magical weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026. During this inaugural Rose Festival, the queen of flowers takes center stage with a diverse program and a cozy Rose & Plant Market. A visit to the stunning Rose Garden is an absolute must to admire the roses in full bloom. The festival will also feature the official christening of the brand-new, bee-friendly rose ‘Let it Bee’, a creation by ILVO in collaboration with Bestselect.

During this atmospheric event, the rose will be celebrated with activities for all ages, accompanied by live music and beautiful decorations. Visitors can browse the Rose & Plant Market, join a passionate guide for an engaging tour of the Rose Garden, ask questions about rose care, and get help choosing the right varieties for their own gardens. Experts from ILVO, Rosica, and the Rozenvrienden (Friends of the Rose) will be on hand to offer professional advice. For those who want to take a piece of the magic home, the Garden Shop will be selling rose-based products as well as roses cultivated in our very own Rose Garden. Foodies are catered for too: Restaurant Pachthof is serving a special rose-inspired suggestion menu, making this blooming debut a complete sensory experience.

Press Invitation: Christening of the 'Let it Bee' rose

A special press event will take place in the Rose Garden on Saturday 13 June at 12:00 PM. This will mark the official christening of the latest introduction by ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and Bestselect, adding to their range of bee-friendly roses: Rosa ‘Let it Bee’. With its pale yellow, open blossoms, this rose acts as a magnet for pollinators. The shrub boasts a very natural, wild look and feel, ensuring an abundant, continuous bloom all summer long. The rose has already been given a prominent spot in the borders of the Botanical Garden’s Rose Garden.

Meise Botanic Garden: Where history and the future of the rose converge

Boasting a collection of more than 100 wild species, the Rose Garden at Meise Botanic Garden houses one of the most important botanical rose collections in the world. This collection forms the heart of the Rose Garden, where visitors can quite literally walk through the evolution of the rose. Numerous cultivated roses also find their home here. The garden’s design is shaped like a blooming flower: in the center, you discover the origins of the rose, while the outer beds—the 'petals'—tell the story of the modern garden rose.

More than ever, aesthetics and ecology go hand in hand here. Wouter Swaerts, gardener of the Rose Garden, explains: “June is the ultimate time to admire the roses in their full glory. In the flowerbeds, you will see that we attach great importance to biodiversity and ecological management. We combine the roses here with colorful perennials, ornamental grasses, and annuals. This extends the flowering season and provides a natural ground cover. But above all: this approach attracts massive numbers of beneficial insects, which are the engine of a healthy garden in harmony with nature. We want to inspire visitors to get started with strong, healthy roses in their own gardens back home.”

Practical Information for Visitors

When: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026

Included: Access to the Rose & Plant Market, the guided tours in the Rose Garden, and activities for all ages are fully included in the standard day ticket to the Botanical Garden. It is highly recommended to buy a day ticket online in advance. Paid workshops and specialized walks must be booked separately.

More info & tickets: www.plantentuinmeise.be