FLOWERS OF STATES
FLOWERS OF STATES. Through the ages flowers have served as symbols and emblems. Many nations have adopted flowers as their emblems. Thus, Ireland has its shamrock; France, its fleur-de-lis. Such national flowers are often associated with history, tradition, or legend. The United States has no national flower, but each of its states—and the District of Columbia as well—has chosen a flower as its own. The initial selections were made by schoolchildren, women’s clubs, and other groups. In most states the legislature officially adopted the flower.
The bouquet on the facing page shows all the state flowers as of 1953. The key picture at right and the table below identify the flowers by states. The sagebrush of Nevada and the violet of Rhode Island have not yet won official acceptance. Alabama’s camellia, Indiana’s peony, Alaska’s forget-me-not, and Hawaii’s hibiscus are not shown because Alabama and Indiana chose their official flowers after 1953 and Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states when the bouquet was made. The flowers shown for Alabama and Indiana were traditionally associated with them.
ALABAMA STATE FLOWER– Camellia , Goldenrod
ALASKA STATE FLOWER- Forget-me-not
ARIZONA STATE FLOWER- Saguaro cactus
ARKANSAS STATE FLOWER- Apple blossom
CALIFORNIA STATE FLOWER- Golden poppy
COLORADO STATE FLOWER- Rocky Mountain columbine
CONNECTICUT STATE FLOWER- Mountain laurel
DELAWARE STATE FLOWER- Peach blossom
FLORIDA STATE FLOWER- Orange blossom
GEORGIA STATE FLOWER- Cherokee rose
HAWAII STATE FLOWER- Hibiscus
IDAHO STATE FLOWER- Syringa
ILLINOIS STATE FLOWER- Native violet
IOWA STATE FLOWER- Rose
INDIANA STATE FLOWER- Peony, Zinnia
KANSAS STATE FLOWER- Sunflower
KENTUCKY STATE FLOWER- Goldenrod
LOUISIANA STATE FLOWER- Magnolia
MARYLAND STATE FLOWER- Black-eyed Susan
MASSACHUSETTS STATE FLOWER- Mayflower
MICHIGAN STATE FLOWER- Apple blossom
MINNESOTA STATE FLOWER- Lady’s-slipper
MISSISSIPPI STATE FLOWER- Magnolia
MISSOURI STATE FLOWER- Hawthorn
MONTANA STATE FLOWER- Bitterroot
NEBRASKA STATE FLOWER- Goldenrod
NEVADA STATE FLOWER- Sagebrush
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE FLOWER- Purple lilac
NEW JERSEY STATE FLOWER- Violet
NEW MEXICO STATE FLOWER- Yucca flower
New York STATE FLOWER- Rose
North Carolina STATE FLOWER- Dogwood
North Dakota STATE FLOWER- Wild prairie rose
OHIO STATE FLOWER- Scarlet carnation
OKLAHOMA STATE FLOWER- Mistletoe
OREGON STATE FLOWER– Oregon grape
PENNSYLVANIA STATE FLOWER- Mountain laurel
RHODE ISLAND STATE FLOWER- Violet
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FLOWER- Yellow jasmine
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FLOWER- American pasqueflower
TENNESSEE STATE FLOWER- Iris
TEXAS STATE FLOWER- Bluebonnet
UTA STATE FLOWER- Sego lily
VERMONT STATE FLOWER – Red clover
VIRGINIA STATE FLOWER- Dogwood
WASHINGTON STATE FLOWER- Coast Rhododendron
WEST VIRGINIA STATE FLOWER- Rhododendron
WISCONSIN STATE FLOWER- Violet
WYOMING STATE FLOWER- Indian paintbrush
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – American Beauty rose