So you can still find the Cherokee Rose growing and rambling wild throughout the southeastern United States, the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) got its common name from its association with the Cherokee tribe. Growing wild along the path the Cherokee people took to the Oklahoma territory during the 1838 Trail of Tears, the white flowers of the Cherokee rose were said to represent the tears of the Cherokee people who were driven out of their homelands. Still a common sight in the South, Cherokee rose is an easy to grow plant.

However, one will find , that it’s actually native to China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam, and was brought to this country. Where Cherokee Rose plants had come to naturalized in the southeastern part of the United States. Which is a climbing rose. In the wild, one can find, that its stems can grow up to 20 feet (6 m.). In the home landscape, the plants are usually pruned to about 6 feet (1.8 m.) and grown as hedges.

Here are some other facts about the Cherokee Rose.

One can say, that the Cherokee Rose is often overlooked as a symbol of the state of Georgia by many for the peach, the state fruit. However, one will find that the Center for Georgia Studies decided to incorporate the Cherokee Rose into their logo because it offers something new and unique at the time.

We have had said, that the story, legend about the Cherokee Rose, was first told around 1881, then later brought up around 1891-1892, then it was brought up in 1895and then around 1910-1911, it started growing as an idea to make it the Georgia state flower.

So the Cherokee Rose became Georgia ‘s official state “floral emblem” by virtue of a joint resolution of the General Assembly and approved by Governor Nathaniel Harris on Aug. 18, 1916 . One reason, why the Cherokee Rose was selected as state flower , was because it had come to represent the removal of the Cherokee from the state in 1838 on what is now known as the “Trail of Tears.” The white petals represent the clans of the Cherokee and the yellow center represents the gold for which the land was stolen. The Cherokee Rose still grows along the route the Cherokees followed westward to the Oklahoma Territory .

You will find , that it’s a high-climbing shrub, the wild Cherokee Rose frequently has stems up to 20 feet long. It is excessively thorny and has plentiful vivid green leaves. Each blossom is borne singly on a lateral branch. However, one will find, that the Cherokee Rose has a short blooming season, which usually starts in late March and April. The fruit is pear-shaped and bristly. It can occasionally be found growing along roadsides, on fences, and waste places in the Coastal Plains and Piedmont of the deep South. Its blooming time is in the early spring, however, if there are favorable conditions in the fall , it will produce a second flowering . In color, this luxurious rose is a waxy white with a large golden center. The petals are of an exquisite velvety texture. Because of its hardy nature, the plant is well adapted to hedge purposes and has been used extensively in this fashion throughout the South.

Just as the Cherokee Rose, is a plant which is a sturdy and strong with stickers on all stems, which it will defy anything which tries to destroy it. So just as the plant protects and has protected it blossoms , it goes present how the Cherokee women and mothers have had and have the courage and determination to protect their children, who would
Andwill lead the Cherokee people, Cherokee Nation in the years to come.

So the Cherokee rose is not a miracle. However, it’s a symbol of strength, hope, prickly beauty and determination of the Cherokee People. However, there will be sadness. There will be death. There were and will be the times, when they did and there will be those times in future, that our people will need courage to keep going. The Cherokee rose , is just one thing that helps to reminds t

So the legend came about and according to legend, the white Cherokee Rose, grew everywhere a Cherokee tear fell on the sad Trail of Tears. Today, the flowers continue to grow wildly along many of the trails that the various American Indians-Native American tribes took on their long journey westward to Oklahoma reservations.

So just as the Cherokee Rose, plant is a sturdy and strong with stickers on all stems, which it will defy anything which tries to destroy it. The Cherokee Mothers and Women, do the same.

Just as the plant protects and has protected it blossoms , it goes represent how the Cherokee women and mothers have had and have the courage and determination to protect their children, who would and will lead the Cherokee Nation in the years to come.

So the Cherokee rose is not a miracle. However, it’s a symbol of strength, hope, prickly beauty and determination of the Cherokee People and especially, the Cherokee Women. However, there will be sadness. There will be death. There were and will be the times, when they did and there will be those times in future, that our people will need courage to keep going. The Cherokee rose , is just one thing that helps to reminds them of that.