Iowa State Flower: Wild Prairie Rose

Iowa State Flower Coloring

 

Iowa chose the Wild Prairie Rose as its State Flower. Roses are the favorite flower worldwide, and this is one variety of them. They grow all over the central part of the USA. Their colors range from White, to all the shades of Pink (from dark to light,) and there are even some Lavender ones. They do have thorns, like all roses. The stamens are yellow. 

They grow in fields, and along the sides of the roads and their seeds often end up in the seed bags of grains so they proliferate among the buckwheat and corn. They have a lovely scent. They have been used in Herbal medicine since the dawn of time. 

Interestingly, 3 different species of the Prairie Rose grow in the state, and the legislature did not specify which of them was the official State Flower. The one here is the Rosa carolina. It blooms in June for about a month. 

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.