Wild Rose
| Additional Flower Resources Edible Flowers Types of Roses Flower Power |
Typically they can be identified by their five red, pink or purple shaded petals, along with multiple stamens. Like their ornamental counterparts, most grow on bushes with prickly stems.
Mostly known for their beauty, the fruits, known as rose hips, and petals, are also edible, and can be eaten raw.
In some places, their aggressive growing style, especially among the introduced species, transforms them into nuisance plants.
The Rosa is a popular genus, with Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) the state flower of Georgia.
The Iowa Legislature reports, "Although no particular species of the flower was designated by the Legislature, the Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa Pratincola) is most often cited as the official flower.
North Dakota lists the Wild Prairie Rose as the official state flower and then adds, "Rosa Blanda or Arkansana has been identified as Rosa Pratincula in species." It basically means that either Rosa Blanda or Rosa Arkansana are considered Wild Prairie Roses.
The people of the state of New York were even less picky. The legislation says, "State flower. The rose shall be the official flower of the state in any color or combination of colors common to it." Technically that could be interpreted as meaning any flower in the Rosaceae family, including those from strawberries, cherries or apples. Typically it refers to flowers in the Rosa genus.
© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels