What is the state flower of New York?

The rose is the state flower of New York. New York adopted it in 1955, and state law specifies that the official flower may be a rose in any color or combination of colors common to the plant.

The designation is broad rather than tied to one particular species or cultivar. Roses grow throughout New York in both cultivated gardens and wild settings, including species such as the pasture rose found along roadsides, hedgerows, and other open areas.

The rose was a popular choice long before its official designation. In an 1891 poll of New York schoolchildren, it ranked as the favorite flower. The state’s emblem therefore reflects both widespread public affection and the flower’s presence in the regional landscape.

New York’s rose should not be confused with the state flowers of nearby states. New Jersey’s state flower is the violet, while Ohio’s is the scarlet carnation. The rose is also the national floral emblem of the United States, a separate designation adopted in 1986.