Non-Stop Blooming Wild Rose
- 'Nearly Wild' rose has the charm of a wild rose and blooms all summer.
Do you know the state flower of North Dakota? It’s the wild prairie rose, a rugged shrub that grows along roadsides and in pastures all over the state.
Why did we choose the wild rose as our state flower? What makes this flower special?
Simplicity. The flower consists of only five delicate petals with a splash of sunshine in the middle. It’s simple and beautiful!
The wild rose has charmed and inspired us for generations. In 1889, the first graduating class of the University of North Dakota chose the colors of the wild prairie rose as their school’s official colors, noting the colors were “suggestive of our green prairies and rosy prospects.”
Many of us who were raised in the countryside have fond memories of wild roses. There was a thicket of wild roses between my childhood home and the barn. The blossoms sparkled like pink jewels in the summer. When you walked nearby, the flowers welcomed you with a wonderful fragrance. It’s too bad the flowers lasted only a few weeks.
That’s why I admire ‘Nearly Wild’ floribunda rose. It blooms profusely all summer, from June to frost!
This prickly rose bush grows up to 3 feet tall and wide. Often used as a hedge, its leaves are glossy with tinges of red. The flowers have a mild fragrance and are good for cutting.
‘Nearly Wild’ is a carefree plant that resists black spot and other diseases. It is hardy to Zone 4 and is not invasive.
For a touch of nostalgia, this is a great rose for any landscape.
Written by Tom Kalb, Extension Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. Photo is courtesy of It’s Not Work, It’s Gardening blog; www.itsnotworkitsgardening.com/2011/03/i-need-rose-pruning-advice.html.
