The Oklahoma State Flower
When it comes to the official state flower of Oklahoma, you might run into a little confusion. There are those who stand by the fact that it is the Mistletoe.
There are those who swear it's the Indian Blanket. But in fact, the official state flower of Oklahoma is the Hybrid Tea Rose, or the 'Oklahoma Rose.'
The scientific name of Hybrid Tea Rose is Rosa.
It wasn't until 2004 that the Hybrid Tea Rose was officially named the state flower of Oklahoma. The Mistletoe was adopted in 1893 as the state floral emblem, though the Mistletoe isn't actually a flower.
Technically it is a plant. The Indian Blanket was named the state wild flower of Oklahoma in 1910. Finally, in 2003, Senator Gilmer Capps introduced a bill that would name the Hybrid Tea Rose the state flower. The bill was passed and the 'Oklahoma Rose' had its place in the books.
Even after the rose was officially named the state flower, it seemed as if the controversy would never end as opponents of the bill stated that the Hybrid Tea Rose wasn't even a native flower to Oklahoma. Regardless of it's origin, it still stands as the Oklahoma State Flower.
Description and Characteristics
The Hybrid Tea Rose is actually the most popular rose, worldwide. The reason for this is because the Hybrid Tea Rose tends to only produce one bloom at the end of a long stem, rather than a bunch of smaller blooms. This makes them more visually appealing when used in floral arrangements or standing alone as a single long-stem rose.
The Hybrid Tea Rose, or Oklahoma Rose as it is now known in the Sooner State, was actually said to be originally cultivated in France in the mid 1800's. It quickly became popular and spread around the globe quickly. It tends to be a very hardy flower, which withstands colder temperatures. The hardiness of the plant varies by specific type. The hardiness index is shown below.
- zone 4a: to -30 °F
- zone 4b: to -25 °F
- zone 5a: to -20 °F
- zone 5b: to -15 °F
- zone 6a: to -10 °F
- zone 6b: to -5 °F
- zone 7a: to 0 °F
- zone 7b: to 5 °F
- zone 8a: to 10 °F
- zone 8b: to 15 °F
- zone 9a: to 20 °F
- zone 9b: to 25 °F
The Hybrid Tea Rose will have bloom repeatedly beginning in late spring and re-blooming through early fall. It is important to know the these roses will grow to between 4 and 6 feet in height, and must be planted a minimum of two to thee feet apart.
The plant itself is generally mildew resistant and needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Though they may look perfect growing under your awning, sadly they simply will not flourish without very direct sunlight.
Of the many types of Hybrid Tea Roses, the most popular is the Peace rose which was named the day Berlin fell to opposing forces in WWII. Some of the other more popular types of Hybrid Tea Roses include the Amelia Earhart and Dolly Parton varieties, named for the famous ladies they represent.
Cultivation and Care
The popularity of the Hybrid Tea Rose has risen over time and has become most people's idea of what a rose is. They are grown and transported all over the world. They have become a staple in our culture as the most commonly purchased flower for holidays such a Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
There are approximately 189 million Hybrid Tea Roses sold every Valentine's Day in The United States alone. The vast majority of these are imported to The United States from Columbia.
Unmatched in beauty, the Hybrid Tea Rose has become a symbol of modern times, as it was one of, if not the first hybridized rose. It has stood for love and peace and it will surely stand the test of time as one of the most popular flowers worldwide.
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