In 1895, Alfredo Moreira da Silva established in Oporto, on a modest horticulture shop. Believing in his skills and in the knowledge acquired in most prestigious nurseries of that time, he couldn’t dream that, more than a century after, his firm would still exist, in the hands of his descendents and with a major role in Europe’s ornamental horticulture.

In the fact, the starting was meteoric. Commerce increased and production spread exponentially. To the production nurseries in Grijó, still operating nowadays, succeeded those of Perosinho’s Qinta da Pena, and those os Campanha, in Oporto, on Quinta da Revolta – actual head office, and Quinta de Bonjóia. The initial small shop, gave way to a modern establishment where, still nowadays a small floriculture shop remains – A Loja das Flores.

He called his sons to the business and, when he died in 1935, his firm was already the national reference of the branch and he “O Alfredo das Rosas” the symbol of the northern self made man, synonym of hard work, honesty and honor.

Presently property of his grand grandchildren, the firm explores more than 100 ha (250 acres) in Grijó, Mira and Coimbra, which makes it the largest nursery in Portugal, exporting to so many different markets like Spain, France, Belgium, UK, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Poland, Lebanon and Jordanian.