Official state symbols, such as flora and fauna, represent the unique identity, natural heritage, and collective pride of a region. These designations often reflect a state’s history, geography, or a flower’s cultural significance. Many states choose a specific flower to embody these characteristics, creating an emblem that appears on documents, seals, and educational materials. This tradition formally recognizes a natural element that holds meaning for residents and contributes to the distinctive landscape.
The Official State Flower
The official state flower of New York is the Rose, a designation formally adopted by the State Legislature in 1955. This selection solidified the flower’s place as a civic emblem. The legislative action establishing this symbol is covered under the New York State Consolidated Laws. Specifically, the relevant statute is found in the State Law, Article 6, Section 75, which defines the official status of the bloom.
Defining the Designation
New York’s designation of the Rose is notable because the law did not specify a single species, variety, or color. Instead, it broadly designated the entire genus Rosa as the official state flower. The statute explicitly states that the Rose shall be the official flower “in any color or combination of colors common to it.” This wide scope differs from many other states that select a single native species. The broad designation allows the official flower to encompass both native wild roses and the numerous cultivated varieties found in New York’s parks and gardens. This approach reflects the state’s diverse geography, from urban horticulture to the wilder landscapes of the Adirondacks and the Hudson Valley.
Physical Characteristics and Habitat
Physical Characteristics
The genus Rosa is characterized by shrubs and vines that possess sharp prickles or thorns along their stems, a trait evolved to deter herbivores. The leaves are generally pinnately compound, divided into several leaflets arranged along a central stem. While cultivated roses have multi-petaled blooms, native wild roses in New York, such as the Pasture Rose, typically feature a simple flower with five petals, often pink.
Habitat and Blooming
Native species are hardy and grow in uncultivated habitats, including fields, open woods, and along roadsides throughout the state. Cultivated varieties thrive in managed environments like public gardens. The peak blooming season for most roses occurs around June. Following the bloom, the flowers produce rose hips, the fruit of the plant, which are a source of Vitamin C and a food source for wildlife during the winter.