The wild prairie rose is the official state flower of Iowa — a hardy native rose with delicate pink, five-petaled blooms.

• Official flower: Wild prairie rose
• Scientific name: Rosa arkansana
• Year adopted: 1897
• Native range: the central U.S.

About the wild prairie rose

Iowa adopted the wild prairie rose in 1897, reportedly to honor a visit tied to a silver service for the battleship USS Iowa. The low, thorny plant scatters fragrant pink flowers across the prairie in summer, each fading to a paler shade with age.

Where it grows

The wild prairie rose is native to the central United States and grows throughout Iowa’s prairies, pastures, and roadsides, blooming in summer.

Iowa state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Iowa?

Iowa’s state flower is the wild prairie rose (Rosa arkansana), which it adopted in 1897.

When did Iowa adopt its state flower?

Iowa designated the wild prairie rose as its official state flower in 1897.

What color is Iowa’s wild prairie rose?

The wild prairie rose bears soft pink, five-petaled flowers with golden centers, fading to a lighter pink as they age.

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