The national flower of the United States is the rose. Congress designated it the National Floral Emblem in 1986 through Public Law 99-449. President Ronald Reagan later marked the designation with Presidential Proclamation No. 5574 on November 20, 1986. The choice reflects the rose's broad cultural significance across occasions ranging from weddings and anniversaries to memorials and national celebrations.
The Official Designation
The rose holds the formal title of National Floral Emblem, the exact wording used in federal law. Here's the designation at a glance:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| National flower | Rose |
| Official designation | National Floral Emblem |
| Year designated | 1986 |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Legislation | Public Law 99-449 |
| Presidential proclamation | No. 5574 |
| Current law | 36 U.S.C. § 303 |
As written in 36 U.S.C.§303: "The flower commonly known as the rose is the national floral emblem." That section was recodified in 1998 as part of a technical, non-substantive reorganization of Title 36; the underlying designation itself still traces back to the 1986 law and proclamation. Although federal law uses the term "National Floral Emblem," the rose is commonly referred to as the national flower of the United States, and you may also see it called the "official floral emblem" or "official flower."
When Did the Rose Become America's National Flower?
The rose's official status came together in two steps, about six weeks apart:
October 7, 1986 - The legislation designating the rose as the National Floral Emblem was enacted as Public Law 99-449.
November 20, 1986 - President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation No. 5574, formally proclaiming the rose the National Floral Emblem of the United States.
That 1986 designation still stands today, carried forward into the permanent federal code under 36 U.S.C. § 303.
Why Is the Rose the National Flower of the United States?
Part of the answer is symbolic, and part of it is botanical. In his 1986 proclamation, President Reagan wrote that Americans "hold the rose dear as the symbol of life and love and devotion, of beauty and eternity," language meant to capture why the flower resonated as a national symbol rather than just a popular garden plant.
The rose also has deep roots in the country, literally. More than 20 species of roses are native to the United States, according to the U.S. Botanic Garden. The flower has ties to early American history, too: George Washington grew roses at Mount Vernon, and Reagan's proclamation credits him with breeding a variety named after his mother, a detail that comes from the proclamation itself rather than from Mount Vernon's own horticultural records.
Roses also vary considerably in form, and several unrelated flowers are commonly mistaken for them. Our guide to flowers that look like roses covers some of the closest lookalikes.
The Long Road to Choosing America's National Flower
The rose wasn't a quick or obvious pick. The debate over an American national flower reached national prominence as early as 1889 and continued, on and off, for decades before it was finally settled in 1986.
Early Proposals for a National Flower
The idea reached the national stage in 1889, when a campaign began pushing for goldenrod. Other flowers entered the conversation in the decades that followed, including columbine, dogwood, and corn tassels. In 1929, botanist and New York Botanical Garden co-founder Elizabeth Gertrude Knight Britton launched a campaign advocating for the rose as the national floral symbol, arguing in part that roses were widely grown across the country.
The Marigold Campaign
One of the rose's most organized rivals was the marigold. Starting in 1959, David Burpee, head of the well-known seed company W. Atlee Burpee & Co., launched a lobbying campaign for the marigold's national designation, writing to members of Congress and later hiring a public relations firm to press the case. Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois and Representative Willard Curtin of Pennsylvania both introduced marigold bills in Congress over the years that followed.
Despite years of lobbying and repeated congressional proposals, the marigold never secured the support it needed to become the national flower.
Why the Rose Ultimately Won
By the 1980s, the rose had several qualities that made it a strong candidate: it was widely grown across the country and carried longstanding cultural and historical associations with love and devotion. After decades of proposals for other flowers, Congress settled the question and designated the rose as the National Floral Emblem in 1986.
What Does America's National Flower Symbolize Today?
As a national symbol, the rose carries the meaning Reagan described in 1986: life, love, devotion, beauty, and eternity. In everyday gifting, that broad symbolism gets more specific, and color plays the biggest role.
| Color | What It Typically Represents |
|---|---|
| Red | Romantic love |
| Pink | Admiration, gratitude, affection |
| White | Purity, remembrance, new beginnings |
| Yellow | Friendship, warmth, and joy |
| Orange | Energy, enthusiasm, attraction |
| Blue | Mystery and the extraordinary (blue roses don't occur naturally; the color comes from dyeing or tinting techniques) |
This only scratches the surface. For a full breakdown of every shade and what it traditionally represents, see our guide to rose color meanings.
National Flower vs. State Flower: What's the Difference?
The national flower represents the United States as a whole, while state flowers are selected as symbols of individual states. The rose is the country's National Floral Emblem, but each state maintains its own floral designation, and a state's flower doesn't replace or change the national one. That's why a rose representing the entire country stands alongside 50 different state flowers, from the California poppy to the Texas bluebonnet, each standing for its own state.
Choosing a Rose Color for the Occasion
Knowing these meanings makes it easier to choose roses for a specific occasion, not just the prettiest bouquet on the shelf. Romantic milestones naturally lean toward red, while birthdays, thank-you gifts, weddings, remembrance, and celebrations with friends may call for a different color instead.
Independence Day is another moment where the rose does double duty as both a national symbol and a design choice: red, white, and blue arrangements echo the stars and stripes without putting an actual flag anywhere near the vase.
After decades of competing proposals, the rose officially became America's National Floral Emblem in 1986. Its place in American history, its widespread presence, and its associations with love, beauty, and devotion help explain why the flower continues to carry meaning far beyond its legal designation.
Shop by Meaning at ART Flowers LA Choose a rose color that matches the occasion and the message you want to send. Our 100 Roses collection includes red, white, pink, black, blue, and other colors, while our rose bouquets collection offers arrangements for birthdays, anniversaries, romantic occasions, and more.
FAQ
What is the national flower of the United States?
The rose. It was designated the National Floral Emblem in 1986.
When did the rose become the national flower?
The legislation designating the rose as the National Floral Emblem was enacted on October 7, 1986. President Ronald Reagan then issued Proclamation No. 5574 on November 20, 1986.
Who made the rose the national flower?
Congress established the rose as the National Floral Emblem through Public Law 99-449 in 1986. President Ronald Reagan subsequently issued Proclamation No. 5574 recognizing and celebrating the designation.
Why was the rose chosen as America's national flower?
By the time Congress acted in 1986, the rose had outlasted decades of proposals for other candidates, including the marigold and goldenrod. It was already widely cultivated across the country and carried longstanding associations with love, beauty, and devotion.
What is the official name for the U.S. national flower?
National Floral Emblem. "National flower" is the common phrase, but it refers to the same designation.
Is the red rose specifically the national flower of the United States?
No, and this is a common misconception. The federal law refers simply to "the rose." It doesn't specify a color, species, or variety. Red is the most iconic shade, but it holds no special legal status over any other.
Does every U.S. state have its own state flower?
Yes. Each of the 50 states has its own officially designated state flower or floral symbol, separate from the national rose designation.
What does the rose symbolize?
Broadly, love, beauty, and devotion, though the specific meaning shifts by color. See our full guide to rose color meanings for the details.
