Know Your State Flowers

by Wendy Aiton
http://www.flowerwa.com

What do the Wisconsin, Illinois, Rhode Island and New
Jersey have in common? Aside from all being states in the
United States of America, they share another distinction -
that of having named the violet as their state flower.

1. One common spring flower represents four states. Can you
name the state flower of Wisconsin, New Jersey, Rhode
Island and Illinois?

2. Many states have chosen flowers that are native to their
state, but only two state flowers bear the state name.
Which state are the only two whose flowers bears its name?

3. It's not unusual for a state to change its mind about
its official state flower, but one state holds the record
for being indecisive. Which state changed its state flower
no less than four times in the course of its history?

The violet isn't the only flower that has been chosen by
more than one state. The dainty apple blossom is the state
flower of both Arkansas and Michigan. It's one of four
fruit blossoms to be named official state flower. The
others are the peach blossom, official state flower of
Delawae, the orange blossom, the state flower of Florida,
and the Oregon grape, which represents Oregon.

Most states have chosen flowers that are native growers.
Hawaii's state flower, for instance, is the yellow
hibiscus. Hawaii shares a trait with many other states -
the yellow hibiscus was not the legislature's original
choice. Until 1988, the official state flower was just the
hibiscus, and many older sources show a red hibiscus.

Of the other states that have changed their official flower
the record holder has got to be Indiana. The legislators of
the Hoosier state chose no less than four different flowers
to represent their state. Originally, the carnation was the
state flower of Indiana. In 1931, the state legislature
chose to recognize the zinnia instead. That lasted nearly
a quarter of a century. In 1957, the legislators changed
the state flower twice - first to the dogwood blossom, and
finally, to the flowers that represent the state to this
day - the peony.

Yellow flowers also take their place among the state
flowers. Hawaii's state flower is specifically the yellow
hibiscus, the sunflower represents Kansas. Both Nebraska
and Kentucky choose the goldenrod, once also the state
blossom of Mississippi. State legislators replaced it with
the far more Southern magnolia to escape the goldenrod's
mistaken reputation for causing allergies.

8. Some states specifically named only one phylum or
color of flower to be their official state representative.
What color is the state flower of Hawaii?

The entire list of state flowers, along with full color
pictures and interesting facts can be found at
www.50states.com