How did the Rose become the US national flower?
The rose was not an obvious choice — the US has an extraordinarily diverse native flora, from Pacific Dogwood to the Saguaro cactus. But the rose had advocates in Congress for decades before the designation. A Congressional resolution first named the rose as national floral emblem in 1986, after previous attempts in 1913, 1932 and the 1950s had failed. President Reagan's signing ceremony was held in the White House Rose Garden — itself a famous symbol of American political culture since Edith Wilson redesigned it in 1913.
The rose in American culture
American states have a long tradition of floral emblems — every US state has its own state flower, designated by its legislature, and many predate the national designation. The rose itself appears as a state flower for four states: New York (rose, unspecified), Georgia (Cherokee rose), Iowa (wild prairie rose) and North Dakota (wild prairie rose). Beyond official symbolism, the rose permeates American culture: the Rose Bowl, the Rose Parade, Guns N' Roses, American Beauty, and the countless rose gardens of American parks and estates.
American rose breeding
The United States has a distinguished tradition of rose breeding. The All-America Rose Selections (AARS) award, given annually since 1940, recognises the best new roses in American trials. American-bred roses include 'Queen Elizabeth' (1954), one of the most widely planted roses in the world, 'Mr Lincoln' (1964), a classic deep red hybrid tea, and 'Knockout' (1999), a disease-resistant landscape rose that transformed American residential planting. David Austin's English Roses are now widely grown across the US but the American climate — hotter summers, colder winters in many regions — favours different characteristics than the UK breeding tradition.
Growing roses in UK gardens
The UK climate — cool, moist summers and mild winters — is among the finest in the world for rose cultivation, which is why English rose breeding (from David Austin in particular) is globally influential. For the longest flowering season, choose repeat-flowering varieties: David Austin English Roses, Hybrid Teas or Floribundas. Plant bare-root roses November to March in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Feed with a specialist rose fertiliser in spring and again after the first flush. Prune hybrid teas hard — to about 30cm — in late March; shrub and English roses need lighter pruning. The RHS holds National Collections of old and species roses at Rosemoor and Wisley.