Amache rose blooms in Denver 80 years after being planted by Granada inmates
DENVER (KDVR) — A rose cutting from the Amache National Historic Site, which was first planted 80 years ago by a Japanese American prisoner, has bloomed after nearly three years of care from the Denver Botanic Gardens.
The cuttings have been cared for since fall 2021 by horticulturist Mike Bone in partnership with the University of Denver Amache Field School and the Amache Preservation Society.
Amache National Historic Site officially established as America’s newest national park
However, the roses themselves were first planted 80 years ago by a prisoner at the Granada Relocation Center, or Camp Amache, in Granada. The site was used to incarcerate Japanese Americans from 1942 to 1945, during World War II, and the roses still bloom in the high desert there, even without anyone to prune or water the bushes.
The Amache National Historic Site was established earlier in 2024 to ensure a future of protection for the site and help tell the story of the more than 10,000 people incarcerated there in the 1940s. While incarcerated, the prisoners were tasked with growing agriculture.
The “Granada Relocation Project” had a goal of producing enough vegetables and meat to become self-sufficient and meet the inmates’ needs, according to the Amache Preservation Society.
The Denver Botanic Gardens shared this photo of their Amache Rose bush, which is blooming for the first time since a cutting was brought to the gardens in Fall 2021. The Denver Botanic Gardens shared this photo of their Amache Rose bush, which is blooming for the first time since a cutting was brought to the gardens in Fall 2021.
According to the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Amache rose propogations began to bloom over the May 18-19 weekend. The organization added the plants to its living collection as a botanical record of Colorado and U.S. history. In 2023, the gardens shared some of the cuttings with descendants of Camp Amache prisoners.
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Interested viewers can find the rose bush on the north side of the Steppe Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens York Street location.
Additionally, to learn more, visitors can watch the Denver Botanic Gardens’ short film, “Amache Rose,” in the Sturm Family Auditorium through Monday, May 27. It features Amache survivors who recount their experiences in the camp. The film screening is included with garden admission and scheduled screenings can be found here.
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