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State Flowers

State Flower of New York

Flower: Rose (Rosa Species)

New York was perhaps the first state to select a state flower. School children were invited to vote for a state flower on Arbor Day, 1890. The goldenrod received 81,308 votes, the rose 79,666. Third place went to the daisy, with just 33,603 votes.

The next year they voted again, with only the goldenrod and rose as candidates. The rose was slightly ahead in New York City. But its lead grew as votes came in from other communities and rural areas. In the end, the rose received 294,816 votes, the goldenrod 206,402. The rose wasn’t officially adopted until April 20, 1955.