QUITO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian roses, famed for their size, vibrant colors and longevity, are increasingly popular in China, an ever-growing market where rose growers see as a crucial niche for exports.

Ecuadorian flower growers generated nearly 11 million U.S. dollars in sales to China in 2018, according to Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Chinese consumers are especially fond of Ecuador's tinted natural roses, which come in a variety of shades and color combinations, and preserved roses, Santiago Luzuriaga, the general manager of export firm Bella Rosa, told Xinhua.

"We are seeing that China's main demand is for tinted roses that are made through absorption. They absorb (color) through the base of the stem and it reaches the bud," Luzuriaga explained.

"In addition to being tinted, they can be painted, which is also popular. That is our main export product," said the manager.

Tinted roses are a favorite item because they allow "our clients to create stories" around them, he said.

Blue-and-white tinted roses, for example, can represent the sky or heaven, or the colors of a sports team, making them ideal for certain celebrations.

Like many of Ecuador's flower exporters, Bella Rosa is located in Tabacundo, a city in the northern province of Pichincha nicknamed "World Rose Capital," due to its vast output.

Covering some 60 hectares of land, the company produces 3.5 million roses of about 100 different varieties each month. About 10 percent of the varieties are renewed each year.

Some 80 percent of its output is exported to 65 countries, mainly the United States, Europe, Russia and China.

In China, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou receive the bulk of the shipments, said Luzuriaga, estimating his company's annual sales to be 800,000 U.S. dollars.

"The Chinese market is beginning to grow, and since it has a large population, we believe demand can grow in other Chinese cities. This could grow little by little," said Luzuriaga.

Preserved roses, which are natural flowers that have been painted and treated to serve as home decorative accents, are also in high demand.

"We are growing by leaps and bounds in the Chinese market," said David Hernandez, head of the plant that makes preserved roses.

During a tour of the plant, he told Xinhua that Bella Rosa offers nine varieties of preserved roses, often styled to reflect the latest trends, and they usually last about a year. The company can also customize designed roses for special occasions.

Established in 1996, Bella Rosa entered the Chinese market four years ago, after executives attended several fairs to learn a bit about the Asian market.

"Currently, we sell some 8 percent of our production to the Chinese market. We have been growing and we have a high-growth outlook," said Luzuriaga.

Tabacundo's geological features are ideal for flower cultivation. The roses flourish in the fertile volcanic soil rich in minerals and nutrients, which result in large buds and flower heads, thick stems and large leaves. These characteristics give Ecuadorian growers an edge over competitors in Kenya and Ethiopia, according to Luzuriaga.

"That's why the Chinese market is willing to pay much more for Ecuadorian flowers, both for shipping and product," he said.

Ecuador is home to about 500 rose farms that cultivate more than 3,100 hectares and over 400 varieties of roses.