New York State Flower

Roses are wildly grown and cultivated all over New York. Roses are beautiful. For over decades the rose has been a symbol of love, the joy of gifting, the expression of beauty, the aroma of royalty, the sign of softness and the spell of fascination. The beauty of the rose is appreciated throughout the world. This pleasantly sweet-smelling flower grows on shrubs and come in different colors: red; white; yellow or pink, each having its own charm and individuality. There are over 150 species and more than 20,000 hybrids of roses to choose from. The number, variety and color of the rose carry symbolic significance.

The beauty of a rose has captivated the minds of many people for a long time. Interestingly, in 1890, when New York decided to choose its state flower, the school children were asked to vote. For some unknown reasons, the state legislature did not announce the winner. In 1955, the results of the poll were announced and the rose was the second choice. However, when the election was held again, rose was declared winner by a heavy margin. The rose permanently found a place in the New York state law. A law that states,"The rose shall be the official flower of the state in any color or combination of colors common to it", appears in the New York Consolidated Laws, State Law, Article 6, Section 75, adopted on April 20, 1955.

After gaining an important position in the state legislation, the rose continued to charm people with its wide variety in terms of color, size and fragrance. It is important to know why this particular rose made history. For that, we need to dig deeper to find the roots of the rose.

Origin
Taxonomically, rose belongs to:

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Rosales
• Family: Rosaceae
• Subfamily: Rosoideae
• Genus: Rosa

Facts

• In Egypt, roses are considered sacred and are used as offerings for the goddess Isis.
• In the 15th century, English war of roses took place. Rose of England was declared the winner. The English were among the first to learn the science of cross breeding and hybridizing.
• Though roses are available in almost all colors, black rose does not exist.

Classification
Roses are broadly classified into 3 categories:

Species roses: They are simple five-petaled flowers that bloom once in the growing season. They grow wild and do not possess the refined characteristics and charm that hybrid roses flaunt. The wild species roses, bloom in summer and stay till winter. A classic example of species rose is rosa rugosa.

Old Garden Roses: They possess delicate features and wonderful perfume. They are usually pastel or white. Some examples of old garden roses are china roses, moss roses and damask.

Modern Roses: Roses that have been identified after 1867 are known as modern roses. A modern rose blooms after cross-pollination of polyanthus and hybrid tea rose. Most popular examples of modern roses are floribunda and grandiflora.

With its sheer beauty and fragrance, the rose has totally bewitched us. So, it comes as no surprise that it plays the role of New York state flower.