If you’ve ever been on a nature walk in North Dakota, you’ve probably run across the Wild Prairie Rose and didn’t even know it. It’s a gorgeous flower with 5 bright pink petals and a tight cluster of yellow stamens at the center. The Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana or Rosa blanda) grows along roadsides, near streams, in pastures and in meadows. With a prevalence and beauty unparalleled by other native North Dakota flowers, the Wild Prairie Rose has been the North Dakota state flower for over one hundred years.

Photo courtesy 50states.com

Though you probably weren’t around in 1907, the awe-inspiring Wild Prairie Rose has maintained its unique appeal for all of these years. Its charm never fades because it is instantly attractive. Its pink flowers help it pop next to wild grasses and other flora across the state. A nature walk is a chance to experience so much richness and natural beauty. Even in the midst of this often overwhelming experience, the Wild Prairie Rose is a diamond in the rough, unashamedly capturing attention but allowing viewers to revel in its beauty.

North Dakota florists are lucky. They do not have to travel far to enjoy the Wild Prairie Rose. It’s title as the North Dakota state flower may not mean much to a local florist, but it doesn’t have to. The Wild Prairie Rose has a reputation all its own and is beautiful enough to be momentarily captivating despite any title.