A Rose for America: The Crowning of Our National Flower

September 23, 1986

My cherished companions of trowel and bloom, gather 'round as we delve into a most momentous occasion in horticultural history. On this day in 1986, after what one might call a rather prolonged courtship, Congress finally bestowed upon the rose the illustrious title of American national flower.

One can only imagine the flutter of petals and rustling of leaves in gardens across the nation as The Journal News of White Plains, New York, proclaimed the news with suitable gravitas:

The House, brushing aside the claims of marigolds and dogwood blossoms, corn tassels and columbines, ended decades of indecision Tuesday and crowned the rose, that thorny beauty, America's national flower.

The voice-vote decision... [ended] a debate over an appropriate "national floral emblem" for the United States that had flickered off and on since the late 19th century.

What a spectacle it must have been, dear readers, to witness such botanical democracy in action!

The rose, that most beloved sovereign of our gardens, triumphing over its worthy competitors in the halls of Congress.

Imagine, if you will, the generations of gardeners who had tended their roses, unknowingly nurturing what would become a national symbol.

From the humble wild rose to the most sophisticated hybrid tea, each had played its part in capturing the American heart.

And how fitting that this most democratic of flowers should represent our nation!

For does not the rose, in all its varied forms, mirror our own diverse society?

From the robust climbing roses that scale our garden walls to the delicate tea roses that grace our formal beds, each variety brings its unique charm to the grand tapestry of American horticulture.

What magnificent foresight our legislators showed in selecting a flower that flourishes in every corner of our vast nation!

From the sun-drenched gardens of California to the hardy rose beds of Maine, these resilient blooms have proven themselves worthy of their crown.

As we tend our gardens today, let us remember this remarkable milestone in our horticultural heritage.

For in cultivating roses, we now nurture not just any flower, but a living symbol of our nation's beauty, strength, and enduring grace.