Tag: Bay State

Massachusetts State Flower

Mayflower

Massachusetts State Flower

Massachusetts State Flower

The mayflower was adopted as the official Massachusetts State Flower in 1918. The fragrant, delicate flower bears the same name as the famous ship that carried Pilgrims to the Massachusetts shores in 1620. Americans continue to honor the state’s most famous residents through the annual Thanksgiving holiday. With all of this rich history behind it, you’d think the mayflower was an obvious floral emblem for the “Bay State.” However, in the early 1900s two bills to make it official were defeated in the legislature. Finally, the matter was put before Massachusetts school children who were asked to choose between the mayflower and the water lily. They voted 2 to 1 in favor of the tiny mayflower.

The mayflower is known by many common names, including trailing arbutus, gravel plant, ground laurel, shadflower, mountain pink, and winter pink. Many species of bees are drawn to the fragrant scent and sweet nectar of the mayflower.

Mayflower Facts

Common Name: Mayflower
Scientific Name: Epigaea repens
Year Adopted: 1918
Peak Bloom: March to June

Massachusetts State Flower Coloring Pages

Massachusetts State Flower

Mayflower Coloring Page to Print or Color Online

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Courtesies

Mayflower photograph by Jim Sorbie. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

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State Flower Coloring Pages created by SuperColoring.com

Super Coloring state flower coloring pages are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.

State Flower Coloring Pages

Massachusetts State Flower

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