The National Tree and National Floral Emblem of the United States

In its 250 years, the United States of America has amassed many symbols, including Uncle Sam, the Stars and Stripes, apple pie, and from the natural world—the bison (Bison bison) and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Relatively recently, the oak tree and the rose were added by congressional acts and presidential proclamations to be, respectively, our national tree and our national floral emblem.

The Mighty Oak

The national tree of the United States is the oak (Quercus spp.), officially designated in 2004. Oaks are a large and diverse group of hardwood trees in the family Fagaceae, comprising hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In the United States, around 90 species occur, ranging from the white oak (Quercus alba) to the southern live oak (Q. virginiana). Their adaptability to a wide range of climates—from humid southeastern forests, arid southwestern landscapes, to cold, windy mountainous areas—makes them one of the most ecologically widespread tree groups in the country. You can find species of oak that thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 10. Many species are large and long-lived. Oak trees that witnessed our nation’s founding are still alive and growing. 

Six states have oak trees as their state tree: Connecticut (white oak), Georgia (southern live oak), Illinois (white oak), Iowa (bur oak), Maryland (white oak), and New Jersey (northern red oak).

Many oak species are native to Pennsylvania, including the white oak, northern red oak (Q. rubra), black oak (Q. velutina), willow oak (Q. phellos), and pin oak (Q. palustris). 

From a horticultural perspective, oaks are valued for their longevity, structural strength, and ecological importance. In addition to providing dense shade, oaks improve air quality by absorbing pollutants. They also support biodiversity by offering habitat and food, particularly acorns, for numerous wildlife species. Oaks are a keystone species. The mighty oak tree can also be very stately and beautiful. Historically, oaks have also been prized for their durable timber, which has been used in shipbuilding, furniture making, and construction. For example, white oak wood was essential in building early American naval vessels such as the USS Constitution.

The choice of the oak as the national tree emerged through a democratic process. In 2001, the Arbor Day Foundation conducted a nationwide vote, inviting the public to select a tree from 21 candidates that represented major genera found across U.S. states. Approximately 400,000 people participated, and the oak received the highest number of votes, significantly outperforming competitors such as redwood and maple. This popular vote was later formalized when Congress passed legislation in 2004, officially naming the oak as the national tree. The oak tree has symbolic associations with strength, endurance, and national unity—qualities long attributed to America, too.

The Beautiful Rose

The national floral emblem of the United States is the rose (Rosa spp.), designated in 1986. Roses are woody perennial plants known for their showy flowers, fragrance, and wide range of colors. Horticulturally, they have been cultivated for thousands of years through selective breeding, resulting in a vast array of garden varieties used in landscaping, perfumery, and ornamental horticulture. Indeed, more than 30,000 cultivars have been created! Roses thrive in temperate climates and are widely grown across the United States in both public and private gardens.

Five states (Georgia, Iowa, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma) have specific roses (two are natives) as their state flowers.

There are five rose species that are native to Pennsylvania: pasture rose (Rosa carolina), swamp rose (R. palustris), Virginia rose (R. virginiana), prairie rose (R. setigera), and meadow rose (R. blanda). Native roses have many benefits. They support pollinators by attracting bumble bees and butterflies, and serve as host plants for numerous caterpillars. Their thorny, dense thickets provide excellent cover and nesting areas for small mammals and birds. They require little to no fertilizer or pesticides, are highly drought-tolerant, and many are salt-tolerant (e.g., Virginia rose). They also produce edible rose hips that are high in vitamin C. The hips persist through winter for wildlife and can be used in teas or preserves for humans.

Historically, roses have held symbolic meaning, often representing love, beauty, devotion, and even political identity. In ancient times, roses were associated with deities such as Aphrodite and were used in medicine and cuisine. Their long-standing cultural significance contributed to their selection as a national symbol in the United States.

The process of designating the rose as the national floral emblem followed a legislative path like that of the oak, though it occurred earlier. In 1985, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution proposing the rose as the national flower, followed by approval in the House of Representatives in 1986. President Ronald Reagan signed the resolution into law on October 7, 1986, during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden (recently removed), formally establishing the rose as a national emblem. The choice reflected both the plant’s widespread cultivation across all states and its versatility as a symbol adaptable to multiple meanings, from romance to remembrance.

In comparing the oak and the rose, one sees complementary aspects of American identity expressed through horticulture. The oak represents endurance, strength, and ecological stability. The rose, by contrast, symbolizes beauty, diversity, and cultural expression. Both plants are taxonomically diverse genera rather than single species, allowing them to represent the geographic and ecological breadth of the United States.