The flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants, characteristically having either specialized
male or female organs or both male and female organs, such as stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals. A complete
flower consists of two essential parts, the stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and callyx. In mosses the flowers consist
of a few special leaves surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia.
One state even lists a state flower that is not a flower at all.
Maine designated the white pine
cone and tassel as its state flower. Botanically, these are not considered flowers since gymnosperms do not have true flowers. The reproductive structures
of pines are known as strobili. You could accurately state that Maine (White Pine Cone & Tassel) s the
only state to have an official state strobilae. If you thought Oklahoma was the right answer, you are nearly correct.
Mistletoe is a plant and is not a flower. It is, however, a flowering plant and bears true flowers, even though
they are not showy.
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State Symbols
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Flowers - Species - Adopted
|
| Alabama |
Camellia
(Camellia japonica L.)
Alabama Official State Flower - 1999
|
| Alabama |
Oak-leaf hydrangea
(Hydrangea quercifolia Bartr.)
Alabama Official State Wildflower - 1999 |
| Alaska |
Wild Native Forget-Me-Not
(Myosotis alpestris)
Alaska State Flower & Floral Emblem - 1917 |
| Arizona |
Saguaro Cactus
(Cereus giganteus)
Arizona State Flower - 1931 |
| Arkansas |
Apple Blossom
(Pyrus coronaria)
Arkansas State Floral Emblem - 1901 |
| California |
Golden Poppy
(Eschscholtzia californica)
California Official State Flower - 1903 |
| Colorado |
White & Lavender Columbine
(Aquilegia caerules)
Colorado State Flower - 1899 |
| Connecticut |
Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia)
Connecticut State Flower - 1907 |
| Delaware |
Peach Blossom
(Prunus persica)
Delaware Official State Flower - 1895; 1953 |
| Florida |
Orange Blossom
(Citrus sinensis)
Florida State Flower - 1909 |
| Florida |
Coreopsis
Florida Official State Wildflower - 1991 |
| Georgia |
Cherokee Rose
(Rosa laevigata)
Georgia State Floral Emblem - 1916 |
| Georgia |
Azalea
Georgia State Wildflower - 1979 |
| Hawaii |
Native Yellow Hibiscus
(Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray)
Hawaii Official State Flower - 1988 |
| Idaho |
Syringa
(Philadelphus lewisii)
Idaho State Flower - 1931 |
| Illinois 2 |
Native Violet
(Viola sororia)
Illinois State Native Flower Jul 1, 1908 |
| Indiana |
Peony
(Paeonie)
Indiana Official State Flower - Mar 15, 1957 |
| Iowa |
Wild Rose
(Rosa Pratincola)
Iowa Official State Flower - May 7, 1897 |
| Kansas |
Helianthus or Wild Native Sunflower
(Helianthus annuus)
Kansas State Flower and Floral Emblem - 1903 |
| Kentucky |
Goldenrod
(Solidago spp.)
Kentucky Official State Flower - May 16, 1926 |
| Louisiana |
Magnolia
(Magnolia graniflora)
Louisiana State Flower - 1900 |
| Louisiana |
Louisiana iris
(Giganticaerulea)
Louisiana Official State Wildflower - 1990 |
| Maine1 |
White Pine Cone & Tassel
(Pinus strobus, linnaeus)
Maine State Floral Emblem - 1895 |
| Maryland |
Black-Eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia hirta)
Maryland State Flower - 1918 |
| Massachusetts |
Mayflower
(Epigaea regens)
Massachusetts State Flower or Floral Emblem - 1918 |
| Michigan |
Apple Blossom
(Pyrus coronaria)
Michigan State Flower - 1897 |
| Michigan |
Dwarf lake iris
(Iris lacustris)
Michigan Official State Wildflower - 1998 |
| Minnesota |
Pink & White Lady's Slipper
(Cypripedium reginae)
Minnesota Official State Flower - 1893; 1967 |
| Mississippi |
Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)
Mississippi State Flower - 1952 |
| Mississippi |
Coreopsis, Calliopsis, and Tickseed
(Coreopsis sp.)
Mississippi State Wildflower - 1991 |
| Missouri 2 |
Hawthorn
(Crataegus)
Missouri State Floral Emblem - 1923 |
| Montana |
Bitterroot
(Lewisia rediviva)
Montana State Floral Emblem - 1895 |
| Nebraska |
Goldenrod
(Solidago serotina)
Nebraska Floral Emblem - 1895 |
| Nevada |
Sage Brush
(Artemisia tridentata or trifida)
Nevada Official State Flower - 1967 |
| New Hampshire |
Purple Lilac
(Syringa vulgaris)
New Hampshire State Flower - 1919 |
| New Hampshire |
Pink lady's slipper
(Cypripedium acaule)
New Hampshire Official State Wildflower - 1991 |
| New Jersey |
Purple Violet
(Viola sororia)
New Jersey State Flower - 1913 |
| New Mexico |
Yucca Flower
(Yucca glauca)
New Mexico State Flower - 1927 |
| New York |
Rose
(Rosa)
New York Official State Flower - 1955 |
| North Carolina |
Dogwood
(Cornus florida)
North Carolina Official State Flower - 1941 |
| North Carolina |
Carolina Lily
(Lilium michauxii)
North Carolina State Wildflower - 2003 |
| North Dakota |
Wild Prairie Rose
(Rosa setigera)
North Dakota State Floral Emblem - 1907 |
| Ohio |
Scarlet Carnation
(Trillium grandiflorum)
Ohio State Flower - 1904 |
| Ohio |
Large white trillium
(Trillium grandiflorum)
Ohio State Wildflower - 1987 |
| Oklahoma |
Mistletoe
(Phoradendron serotinum)
Oklahoma State Floral Emblem - 1893 |
| Oklahoma |
Indian Blanket
(Gaillardia pulchella)
Oklahoma Official State Wildflower - 1986 |
| Oklahoma |
Oklahoma rose
(Rosa odorata (Andr.) Sweet)
Oklahoma Official State Flower - 2004 |
| Oregon |
Oregon Grape
(Berberis aquifolium)
Oregon Official State Flower - 1899 |
| Pennsylvania |
Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia)
Pennsylvania State Flower - 1933 |
| Rhode Island |
Violet
(Viola Palmata)
Rhode Island State Flower - 1968 |
| South Carolina |
Carolina or Yellow Jessamine
(Gelsemium sempervirens)
South Carolina State Flower - 1924 |
| South Carolina |
Goldenrod
(Solidago altissima)
South Carolina Official State Wildflower - 2003 |
| South Dakota |
Pasque, May Day Flower
(pulsatilla hirsutissima)
South Dakota State Floral Emblem - 1903 |
| Tennessee |
Iris
(genus Iridaceae)
Tennessee State Cultivated Flower - 1933 |
| Tennessee |
Passionflower
(Passiflora incarnata)
Tennessee State Wildflower - 1973 |
| Tennessee |
Tennessee echinacea
(Echinacea tennesseensis)
Tennessee State Wildflower - 2012 |
| Texas 2 |
Bluebonnet
(Lupinus subcarnosus)
(Lupinus texensis)
Texas State Flower - 1901 |
| United States |
Rose
(genus Rosa)
National Floral Emblem - Nov 20, 1986
|
| Utah |
Sego Lily
(Calochortus nuttallii)
Utah State Flower - 1911 |
| Vermont |
Red Clover
(Trifolium pratense)
Vermont State Flower - 1894 |
| Virginia |
American Dogwood
(Cornus florida)
Virginia State Floral Emblem - 1918 |
| Washington |
Coast Rhododendron
(Rhododendron macrophyllum)
Washington Official State Flower - 1892 |
| Washington, DC |
American Beauty Rose
(Rosa 'American Beauty')
Washington, DC District Flower - NA
|
| West Virginia |
Rhododendron (Big Laurel)
(Rhodedendron Maximum)
West Virginia Official State Flower - 1903 |
| Wisconsin |
Wood Violet
(Viola papilionacea)
Wisconsin State Flower - 1949 |
| Wyoming |
Indian Paint Brush
(Castilleja linariaefolia)
Wyoming State Flower - 1917 |
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1. Maine designated the white pine cone and tassel as its state flower. Botanically, these are not considered flowers
since gymnosperms do not have true flowers. The reproductive structures of pines are known as strobili. You could accurately state the Maine is the
only state to have an official state strobilae. If you thought Oklahoma was the right answer, you are nearly correct. Mistletoe is a plant and is
not a flower. It is, however, a flowering plant and bears true flowers, even though they are not showy.
2. In Illinois, Missouri, and Texas, multiple species fit the legislated name of the state flower.
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