Category: State Flowers

Indian Paintbrush

Wyoming State Flower

The Indian paintbrush was designated the Wyoming State Flower in 1917. Not everyone agreed with the choice. University of Wyoming’s Dr. Aven Nelson made his objections known in the Wyoming School Journal of 1917. A highly respected botanist, Dr. Nelson argued that the plant wasn’t common in the state, that it was parasitic, and that there were so many varietals only an expert could tell them apart. Dr. Nelson favored a state flower such as columbine, which was common in Wyoming and easy to grow in home gardens. He also suggested the fringed gentian, an unofficial state flower chosen by school children in the early 1900s.

The Wyoming Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution campaigned for the Indian paintbrush. Their cause was greatly aided by Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, an accomplished educator at the University of Wyoming, and the state’s first female attorney. Dr. Hebard drafted legislation, secured a sponsor, and commissioned a New York artist to paint a picture of the Indian paintbrush for legislators. Thanks to the commitment of these women, the Indian paintbrush was chosen as the official floral emblem of the “Equality State.” Dr. Hebard presented the painting to the state after the legislation was approved.

Indian Paintbrush Facts

Common Name: Indian Paintbrush
Scientific Name: Castilleja linariaefolia
Year Adopted: 1917
Peak Bloom: April to June

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Indian Paintbrush photograph by John Fowler. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

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Adoption of the Wyoming State Flower

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State Flowers

Wisconsin State Flower

by Kim on August 24, 2016

Wood Violet

Wisconsin State Flower

The wood violet was officially designated the Wisconsin State Flower in 1949, following the state’s Centennial celebration. “Badger State” residents have recognized the violet as a floral emblem since 1909. Wisconsin school children voted unanimously for the delicate bloom on Arbor Day, at the request of their Superintendent. Contenders for the honor included the wild rose, trailing arbutus (mayflower) and white water lily. In the end, the children felt the common wood violet best represented the scenic beauty of their state. Wisconsin’s wet climate and woodland environs are just right for the native wildflower, which thrives in moist and slightly shaded conditions.

Did you know the violet is the most popular state flower? Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are also represented by the low-growing-perennial. Wisconsin residents admired their state flower long before it was officially adopted. Images of the common wood violet appeared on a state stamp in 1848.

Wood Violet Facts

Common Name: Wood Violet
Scientific Name: Viola papilionacea
Year Adopted: 1949
Peak Bloom: April to June

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Wood Violet photograph by Joshua Mayer. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

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20 State Symbols of Wisconsin and the Stories Behind Them

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State Flowers

West Virginia State Flower

by Kim on August 24, 2016

Rhododendron

West Virginia State Flower

The rhododendron was designated the official West Virginia State Flower in 1903. The fragrant shrub received high praises from Governor George Atkinson who exclaimed “I know none more beautiful and none more common in West Virginia, than the Rhododendron.” An overwhelming majority of “Mountain State” school children agreed. When asked to vote for their favorite state floral emblem, the rhododendron won the day.

Rhododendron maximum is the tallest and hardiest of the evergreen rhododendrons. The spring-blooming perennial flourishes on ravines, hillsides, and under the canopy of hemlock and maple trees. It is known by many names including great laurel, great rhododendron, rosebay, and rosebay rhododendron.

Rhododendron Facts

Common Name: Rhododendron
Scientific Name: Rhododendron maximum
Year Adopted: 1903
Peak Bloom: July

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Rhododendron photograph by Lee Wright. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

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State Flowers

Washington State Flower

by Kim on August 23, 2016

Coast Rhododendron

Washington State Flower

The coast rhododendron was officially designated the Washington State Flower in 1959. Washington ladies selected the bloom in 1892 for inclusion in the Chicago World’s Fair “National Garland of Flowers.” The flowering evergreen shrub is native to western North America, and is also called Pacific rhododendron and big leaf rhododendron. As you may guess from its names, the coast rhododendron is found primarily near the Pacific coast. Its range extends from northern British Columbia all the way down to Monterey, California.

The coast rhododendron is particularly beautiful in its native habitat. Northwest residents tend to choose “rhodies” with showier flowers that are easier to grow when landscaping their own gardens. Generations of hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts have enjoyed the natural beauty of the “Evergreen State” floral emblem. Despite its beauty, rhododendron leaves and flowers are toxic to humans and animals. The sprawling shrubs are highly beneficial however, as they provide year-round shelter for wildlife.

Coast Rhododendron Facts

Common Name: Coast Rhododendron
Scientific Name: Rhododendron macrophyllum
Year Adopted: 1959
Peak Bloom: May to July

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Nature on Trail: Pacific Rhododendron

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State Flowers

Virginia State Flower

by Kim on August 23, 2016

American Dogwood

Virginia State Flower

American dogwood was designated the Virginia State Flower in 1918. The selection was influenced by the Commonwealth’s association with one of America’s most noted founding fathers and presidents. Thomas Jefferson loved trees and grew more than 160 species on the grounds of his Virginia estate, Monticello. He maintained detailed records of his gardens and referenced the dogwood tree as far back as 1771.

In the late 1780s while serving as Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson presented the seeds of North American trees to his associates in Europe. He made several shipments of dogwood seeds to a friend in Paris, Madame de Tessé. His enthusiasm for trees lasted a lifetime. Shortly before his death at the age of eighty-three, Thomas Jefferson designed an arboretum for the University of Virginia.

Flowering dogwood is one of the most popular trees for ornamental planting in the United States. Dogwood trees are also extremely valuable for wildlife, which ingest the seeds, fruit, flowers, twigs, bark, and leaves of the plant. The fruits are especially popular with birds. They’re also a high-fat food source for mammals, including bears, beavers, deer, chipmunks, foxes, rabbits, skunks, and squirrels.

American Dogwood Facts

Common Name: American Dogwood
Scientific Name: Cornus florida
Year Adopted: 1918
Peak Bloom: April to June

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American Dogwood photograph by JamesDeMers

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The Trees of Monticello

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State Flowers

Vermont State Flower

by Kim on August 22, 2016

Red Clover

Vermont State Flower

Red clover was adopted as the Vermont State Flower in 1894. Vermonters were inspired by the previous year’s World’s Fair in Chicago, which featured a “National Garland of Flowers.” Several flowers were considered for the honor, including the buttercup, daisy, and mayflower. Vermont farmers campaigned mightily for red clover, a common sight on cultivated hay fields and dairy farmlands throughout the state. The perennial herb is a member of the legume family and a favorite with cattle and other grazing animals.

Vermont’s state flower isn’t just beautiful–it’s a workhorse. Red clover is an excellent soil conditioner and an important source of nitrogen. The plant’s extensive root systems break up heavy topsoil and suppress weeds. Bees and other beneficial insects love red clover! Anyone driving through the “Green Mountain State” is bound to encounter red clover along the state’s roadsides, valleys, mountains, and lakes.

Red Clover Facts

Common Name: Red Clover
Scientific Name: Trifolium pratense
Year Adopted: 1911
Peak Bloom: May to June

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Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education: Red Clover

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State Flowers

Utah State Flower

by Kim on August 22, 2016

Sego Lily

Utah State Flower

The sego lily was adopted as the Utah State Flower in 1911. The bulbous perennial was chosen for its natural beauty as well as its historical significance. Native Americans considered the sego lily a sacred plant and developed culinary uses for its bulbs, seeds, and flowers. Many tribes created a healthful porridge from roasted or boiled sego lily bulbs, which are similar in shape to a radish. Brigham Young, who led Mormon pioneers to the western United States, declared the sego lily “a heaven sent source of food.” Friendly Native Americans taught Mormon settlers how to harvest and prepare the bulbs for much needed survival food when a devastating cricket infestation destroyed crops.

The sego lily once saved lives, and now it helps teach Utah residents to save water. Sego Lily Gardens is an educational center in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The gardens are open to the public and benefit from the support of local volunteers, including boy scouts, girl scouts, and church members. Visitors learn ways to conserve water while creating beautiful and water-wise landscapes.

Sego Lily Facts

Common Name: Sego Lily
Scientific Name: Calochortus nuttallii
Year Adopted: 1911
Peak Bloom: May to June

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Life-Saving Lily: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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State Flowers

Texas State Flower

by Kim on August 21, 2016

Bluebonnet

Texas State Flower

The bluebonnet was adopted as the Texas State Flower in 1901. State government expanded the definition in 1971 to include all native species of the beloved wildflower. Every spring, several varieties of the hardy winter annual take center stage on the North American prairie. The bluebonnet is an indigenous species, despite the myth that early-day Catholic priests imported the seeds from Spain. Native Americans wove folktales about bluebonnets long before Europeans settled in the area. Two main species, Lupinus texensis and Lupinus subcarnosis grow naturally only in Texas–and nowhere else in the world!

Thanks to Lady Bird Johnson, Texas was the first state to plant wildflowers along its highways. For 60 years the Texas Highway Department has been keeping Texas beautiful, sowing up to 30,000 pounds of seeds each year. Generations of Texans have adopted the springtime tradition of snapping family photos in open fields and roadsides bursting with the color of bluebonnets.

Bluebonnet Facts

Common Name: Bluebonnet
Scientific Name: Lupinus texensis
Year Adopted: 1901
Peak Bloom: May to July

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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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State Flowers

Tennessee State Flower

by Kim on August 21, 2016

Iris

Tennessee State Flower

The iris was recognized as the Tennessee State Flower in 1933. The purple iris is generally accepted as the floral emblem of the “Volunteer State,” though the legislature didn’t specify a particular color or species in its official naming. There was just one problem. In 1919 a five-member state commission entrusted school children to vote for an appropriate state flower. Their choice — the purple passion flower.

When garden clubs pressured the legislature to designate the iris in 1933, passion flower fans were quite unhappy. For forty years Tennessee was represented by two state flowers. In 1973 the General Assembly resolved the situation by honoring both flowers. The passion flower was named the state wildflower and the iris became the state cultivated flower.

In 2012 a second state wildflower was designated. The fuschia-colored Tennessee coneflower was once a federally listed endangered plant species. Thanks to committed conservancy efforts, the herbaceous perennial was literally brought back from the brink of extinction.

Iris Facts

Common Name: Iris
Scientific Name: Iris
Year Adopted: 1933
Peak Bloom: April to August

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Tennessee Coneflower: No Longer Endangered

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State Flowers

South Dakota State Flower

by Kim on August 20, 2016

Pasque Flower

South Dakota State Flower

The pasque flower was designated the official South Dakota State Flower in 1903. The hairy perennial grows wild throughout the state and is known by many names, including pasqueflower, Easter flower, May Day flower, prairie crocus, wind flower, and meadow anemone. The pasque flower was the subject of Native American songs and legends–centuries before Europeans settled in the area. In fact, the pasque flower was regarded as one of four sacred plants in the Rocky Mountain region. Though the fresh plant is highly toxic, many tribes found diluted forms beneficial for the treatment of digestive and respiratory disorders.

The lovely lavender bloom is one of the first flowers to appear in the spring, often before the winter snows begin to thaw. Honeybees rely on the pasque flower for early season nectar.

Pasque Flower Facts

Common Name: Pasque Flower
Scientific Name: Pulsatilla hirsutissima
Year Adopted: 1903
Peak Bloom: April to May

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Herbal Encyclopedia: Pasque Flower