The flower is commonly associated with the Trail of Tears , the forced relocation of Native Americans in the southeastern United States . Its white petals are said to represent the tears the Cherokee women shed during the period of great hardship and grief throughout US government-forced march from the Cherokees ' home to U.S. forts , such as Gilmer . The flower 's gold center is said to symbolize the gold taken from the Cherokee tribe
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Rosa laevigata