United States

The Story Behind the Rose

Did you know the United States has a national flower? Most people know the bald eagle is our national bird. Many can identify the Stars and Stripes. But if someone asked what America's national floral emblem is, a lot of us would probably pause for a moment. The answer is the rose. And surprisingly, it took nearly a century of debate to get there. As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it's a perfect time to look at the flower that came to represent the nation and the story behind how it earned that honor.

This short video shares how the rose became the national floral emblem of the United States and the decades-long debate that nearly gave the honor to several other flowers.

Rose

Rosa

Unlike many state flowers that represent a single species, America's national floral emblem includes the entire rose genus.

A few things that make it special:

Grows in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii
Comes in thousands of varieties and colors
Cultivated in America since the earliest days of the nation
Symbolizes love, beauty, remembrance, and celebration

Whether growing in a city garden, a small-town park, or a backyard flower bed, the rose is a flower that feels at home throughout the country.

Why It Became the State Flower

The idea of a national flower was debated for decades.

The first serious proposal came in 1901 when supporters suggested the red carnation become the nation's floral emblem. If that sounds familiar, it's because the carnation was closely associated with President William McKinley and would later become Ohio's state flower.

But the carnation wasn't the only contender.

Over the years, more than seventy proposals were introduced suggesting flowers such as the daisy, mountain laurel, phlox, columbine, and even corn tassels.

In 1929, botanist Elizabeth Britton, one of the founders of the New York Botanical Garden, began advocating for the rose. She believed it was the obvious choice.

Not everyone agreed.

In 1959, seed company founder Royal H. Burpee launched a campaign supporting the marigold instead. Senator Everett Dirksen joined the effort, arguing that the marigold was native to the Americas, widely recognized, and deeply woven into American gardens.

For years, the rose and marigold competed for the honor.

In the end, the rose won.

Its connection to American history, culture, and everyday life proved difficult to match.

George Washington cultivated roses at Mount Vernon and even developed a rose named after his mother, Mary Washington. The White House Rose Garden was established in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Wilson. The Rose Bowl, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the tradition of "running for the roses" at the Kentucky Derby all helped cement the flower's place in American culture.

Finally, on November 20, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation making the rose the official National Floral Emblem of the United States.

Standing in the White House Rose Garden, he said: "Americans who would speak the language of the heart do so with a rose."

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