Legends of the Cherokee Rose

Legends of the "Cherokee Rose"

"Southeastern Legend of the Cherokee Rose" The Cherokee Rose plant first grew in the Carolinas, the home of the Eastern Cherokee Indians. This version of the legend is from the rose's first home....

Years ago, a Seminole warrior was attracted to the Cherokee tribe by the beauty of an Indian maiden. After surmounting many difficulties, he won her as his bride.

As she left her childhood home for the fragrant orange bower of the Seminole Indians, she plucked a trailing stem of the wild rose, the flower she had always known and loved, and hiding it in her bosom, she carried it to the land of the Seminole, which we know as Florida. She the rose beside the orange tree at the door of her husband's lodge.

Today the beautiful white rose is trailing over the decaying walls and falling timbers of the ancient lodge of the Seminoles. Wherever it grows, its fragrance is wafted on the breeze as incense to the memory of the Cherokee Indian maiden.

Cherokee Rose

Cherokee Rose

Cherokee Rose

& "Trail of Tears Legend of the Cherokee Rose"

In the latter half of 1838, Cherokee People who had not voluntarily moved west earlier were forced to leave their homes in the East.

The trail to the West was long and treacherous and many were dying along the way. The People's hearts were heavy with sadness and their tears mingled with the dust of the trail.

The Elders knew that the survival of the children depended upon the strength of the women. One evening around the campfire, the Elders called upon Heaven Dweller, ga lv la di e hi. They told Him of the People's suffering and tears. They were afraid the children would not survive to rebuild the Cherokee Nation.

Gal v la di e hi spoke to them, "To let you know how much I care, I will give you a sign. In the morning, tell the women to look back along the trail. Where their tears have fallen, I will cause to grow a plant that will have seven leaves for the seven clans of the Cherokee. Amidst the plant will be a delicate white rose with five petals. In the center of the blossom will be a pile of gold to remind the Cherokee of the white man's greed for the gold found on the Cherokee homeland. This plant will be sturdy and strong with stickers on all the stems. It will defy anything which tries to destroy it."

The next morning the Elders told the women to look back down the trail. A plant was growing fast and covering the trail where they had walked. As the women watched, blossoms formed and slowly opened. They forgot their sadness. Like the plant the women began to feel strong and beautiful. As the plant protected its blossoms, they knew they would have the courage and determination to protect their children who would begin a new Nation in the West.

When the Trail of Tears started in 1838, the mothers of the Cherokee were grieving and crying so much, they were unable to help their children survive the journey. The elders prayed for a sign that would lift the mother’s spirits to give them strength. The next day a beautiful rose began to grow where each of the mother’s tears fell. The rose is white for their tears; a gold center represents the gold taken from Cherokee lands, and seven leaves on each stem for the seven Cherokee clans. The wild Cherokee Rose grows along the route of the Trail of Tears into eastern Oklahoma today.

(Various Sources, Oral Tradition etc)