In the United States of America, each of the 50 states has a designated official state flower. The following list includes the states and the District of Columbia and territories by name and abbreviation, designated official flower, the botanical name of the flower, and the year it was proclaimed or chosen as the state flower.
Some states use native flowers, some use the bloom of a flowering tree or shrub or plant; there are several official roses -- both wild and hybridized, and one state uses non-flowers (the white pine cone and tassel.) The earliest listed selection dates back to 1892 (Washington state), the most recently named official state flower is for the state of Hawaii, in 1988.
Alabama (AL) camellia Camellia japonica 1959/1999
Alaska (AK) forget-me-not Myosotis alpestris subsp. Asiatica 1917
Arizona (AZ) saguaro cactus blossom Carnegia gigantean 1931
Arkansas (AR) apple blossom Malus domestica 1901
California (CA) California poppy Eschscholzia californica 1903
Colorado (CO) Rocky Mountain columbine Aquilegia caerulea 1899
Connecticut (CT) mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia 1907
Delaware (DE) peach blossom Prunus persica 1895
District of Columbia (DC) American Beauty Rose Rosa “American Beauty”
Florida (FL) orange blossom Citrus sinensis 1909
Georgia (GA) Cherokee rose Rosa laevigata 1916
Hawaii (HI) pua aloalo Hibiscus brackenridgei 1988
Idaho (ID) syringa mock orange Philadelphus lewisii 1931
Illinois (IL) purple violet genus Viola 1908
Indiana (IN) peony Paeonia lactiflora 1957
Iowa (IA) wild prairie rose Rosa arkansana 1897
Kansas (KS) sunflower Helianthus annuus 1903
Kentucky (KY) goldenrod Solidago canadensis var. scabra 1926
Louisiana (LA) magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 1900
Maine (ME) eastern white pine tassel and cone Pinus strobes 1895
Maryland MD black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 1918
Massachusetts (MA) mayflower Epigaea repens 1918
Michigan (MI) apple blossom Malus domestica 1897
Minnesota (MA) pink and white ladyslipper Cypredium reginae 1893
Mississippi (MS) magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 1952
Missouri (MO) hawthorn genus Crataegus 1923
Montana (MT) bitterroot Lewisia rediviva 1895
Nebraska (NE) goldenrod Solidago gigantean 1895
Nevada (NV) sagebrush Artemisia tridentate 1917
New Hampshire purple lilac Syringa vulgaris 1919
New Jersey (NJ) violet Viola sororia 1971
New Mexico (NM) yucca Yucca glauca 1927
New York (NY) rose genus Rosa 1955
North Carolina (NC) flowering dogwood Cornus florida 1941
North Dakota (ND) wild prairie rose Rosa arkansana 1907
Ohio (OH) scarlet carnation Dianthus caryophyllus 1904
Oklahoma (OK) mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum 1983
Oregon (OR) Oregon grape Berberis aquifolium 1899
Pennsylvania (PA) mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia 1933
Rhode Island (RI) violet Viola palmate 1968
South Carolina (SC) yellow Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens 1924
South Dakota (SD) pasque flower Anemone patens var. multifida 1903
Tennessee (TN) iris Iris germanica 1933
Texas (TX) Texas bluebonnet genus Lupinus 1901
Utah (UT) sego lily genus Calochortus 1911
Vermont (VT) red clover Trifolium pretense 1895
Virginia (VA) flowering dogwood Cornus florida 1918
Washington (WA) coast rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum 1892
West Virginia (WV) rhododendron Rhododendron maximum 1903
Wisconsin (WI) violet Viola sororia 1949
Whyoming (WY) Indian paintbrush Castilleja linariifolia 1917
Guam puti tai nobiu Bougainvillea spectabilis
Northern Marianas plumeria Plumeria rubra forma acutifolia
Puerto Rico hibiscus Thespesia grandiflora
U.S. Virgin Islands yellow trumpetbush Tecoma stans
This list is based on information from the National Arboretum. This is such an interesting list of official state flowers. It’s difficult to imagine the selection process! It seems every school child in America learns about their official state flower sooner or later, probably along with their state's flag, official seal, and state motto. Did you already know or remember your state flower?
more FLOWER GARDENS ARTICLES and FLOWER GARDENS BLOGS Copyright October 14 2007 Barbara Martin All Rights Reserved
