The wild rose was chosen as Iowa’s state flower in 1897, but the specific species was not specified. The wild prairie rose eventually became the official state flower, but Rosa blanda and Rosa carolina are also contenders. Each species grows in different regions of Iowa and has distinct characteristics.
Iowa selected the wild rose as its state flower in 1897. The previous year, the Iowa legislature had used the image of one of the state’s wild roses for the state’s official reason. After the wild rose appeared on a silver tea service and as a motif used on the US Navy battleship Iowa, it wasn’t long before the flower became the official flower for Iowans.
Iowa has several wild rose species, each with its own specimens. The 1897 legislative decree did not specify which species of wild rose was chosen as the state flower of Iowa. Despite the ensuing confusion and competition between native rose species, the wild prairie rose eventually became the official state flower of Iowa. It is the species that Iowa has registered with the US National Arboretum. Rosa arkansana is the botanical name for wild prairie rose.
The selection process used by the Iowa legislature has made it somewhat difficult to specify just one of its many wild rose species as the state flower of Iowa. Historians have identified two other wild roses that are often used as the state flower of Iowa. These roses are similar in appearance, but have different botanical names and distinct characteristics. Wild roses that are considered alternatives to wild prairie pinks as the state flower of Iowa are Rosa blanda and Rosa carolina.
Prairie wild rose is a shrub that grows to 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall. It is commonly found in the prairies, meadows and woodlands of Iowa. This rose has pink flowers which usually appear in June. It also produces small round rose hips which normally appear during the summer.
Rose bland is a native species usually found in the northern region of Iowa. It also grows in the prairies, meadows and woodlands of Iowa, but its common name is meadow rose. This flower is also common in major cities in Iowa. The shrub it grows on reaches a height of 4 feet (1.2 meters). This top contender for Iowa state flower has large pink flowers that bloom from late June through summer and red hips that are shaped like apples.
Rosa carolina is the third contender for the honor of being the state flower of Iowa. It is found most frequently in meadows and woods. With its pink flowers, Rosa carolina can easily be mistaken for its competitors, Rosa blanda and Rosa arkansana. Home gardeners also grow this species as a lawn ornamental and for indoor bouquets.
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