NATIONAL PEACE ROSE DAY; APRIL 29

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PEACE ROSE DAY

Francis Meilland, a French horticulturist, developed the Peace rose by crossing a hybridized tea rose known as the Margaret McGredy rose with another seedling. He named the rose Madame A. Meilland, after his late mother.

However, before the German invasion of France, Meilland sent the cuttings of the rose to his friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United States to protect the new flower. It is in these different countries that the rose was given other names. The official name for the rose in France is still “Madame A. Meilland”, in honor of the breeder’s mother. In Italy, it was given the name ‘Gioia,’ meaning ‘joy.’ In Germany, it was called ‘Gloria Dei,’ meaning ‘glory to God.’ In the United States, it was named the Peace rose.

In the United States, Robert Pyle of the Conard Pyle Company, based in Pennsylvania, gave it its American name in 1945. While the war raged on in Europe, Pyle cultivated the rose and sent the samples to the American Rose Society for review. After Germany left France, he contacted Meilland and informed him that the rose would be introduced to the American public as the war ended. The name ‘Peace’ was given to the rose by Pyle in honor of the impending global peace. These roses were given to each delegate at the inaugural United Nations meeting in 1945 in honor of Germany’s surrender.

It is since then that National Peace Rose Day is celebrated to mark the day that this rose received its American name and the symbolism behind it.

NATIONAL PEACE ROSE DAY TIMELINE

1930s The Invention of the Peace Rose

French horticulturist Francis Meilland develops the Peace Rose in France by mixing different breeds of roses.

1945 Peace Rose at the United Nations

Peace roses are given to delegates at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations with a note that reads: “We hope the Peace rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace.

1976 Rose Hall of Fame

The Peace rose is chosen as the World’s Favorite Rose and gets inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame.

1992 One Million Plants Sold

The Peace rose sells in quantities of over a million and gains more popularity