Wild prairie rose; photo by Ed Rascaille on Flickr (all rights reserved; used by permission).
Official State Flower of Iowa
The wild rose was adopted as the state flower of Iowa in 1897. Although no particular species was designated by the Iowa Legislature, the wild prairie rose (Rosa Pratincola) is usually cited as the official flower. All State Flowers
Wild Rose Facts
Wild roses bloom from June through late summer throughout Iowa - the petals come in varying shades of pink, with yellow stamens at the flower's center.
The rose grows naturally throughout North America. Roses are red, pink, white, or yellow and can have a wonderfully rich aroma. The petals and rose hips are edible and have been used in medicines since ancient times. Rose hips (the fruit of the rose which forms at base of the flower) are eaten in winter by wild birds and other animals.
The rose is our national flower and the state flower of New York, the Cherokee rose is the state flower of Georgia, and the wild prairie rose is also the state flower of North Dakota.
