Bill would make Oklahoma Rose official state flower

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Rose would become the official state flower under a bill headed to the state House. The state Senate approved the Senate Bill 7 unanimously on Monday. The

Tuesday, February 24th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Rose would become the official state flower under a bill headed to the state House.

The state Senate approved the Senate Bill 7 unanimously on Monday.

The author of the bill, Sen. Gilmer Capps, D-Snyder, said many think mistletoe is the state flower, but it is actually the official state floral emblem.

Dottie Weissenberger was among workers who planted 500 Oklahoma Roses on the state Capitol grounds 40 years ago this month. She has been trying to make the rose the state flower ever since.

Weissenberger said the flower's deep crimson represents the blood that was shed when the Five Civilized Tribes were moved to Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Rose is a hybrid developed by the late Herbert Swim, who went to Oklahoma State University, Weissenberger said.

The Senate vote was 44-0.