State Flowers of the USA (Quick Guide)

Every U.S. state has a flower that somehow represents what people there value or just what grows easily in their soil. These USA state flowers show up in old stories, state seals, and even on highway signs. Some are well known, others not so much. This guide looks at some of these blooms, why they are valued in the respective states, and if you can find them at local Bixby florists.

Here is the List of State Flowers of the United States

Alabama: Japanese Camellia

The Japanese Camellia serves as Alabama’s official state flower. Many people casually call it the “Rose of Winter.” It’s a broad, noticeable bloom with petals that appear in shades of white, pink, or red.

Alaska: Alpine Forget Me Not
This small plant grows easily in colder zones. Its five sky-blue petals form a tidy, balanced circle, and the bright yellow center stands out clearly against the blue.

Arizona: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
This blossom grows on the giant Saguaro cactus. The flowers are creamy white and roughly three inches wide. They open at night, which makes them feel almost unusual compared to most other blooms.

Arkansas: Apple Blossom
Apple Blossoms appear in thick clusters on trees. Each flower has five pale pink petals. They usually signal that apple season is approaching.

California: California Poppy
Native to the region, the California Poppy is easy to identify. The bloom has four petals that range from vivid yellow to orange. These flowers often cover large fields.

Colorado: Rocky Mountain Columbine
This flower is known for its two-tone petals, commonly white and blue. It’s a hardy species and grows naturally at high altitudes.

Connecticut: Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel blooms are typically pink and white, and they grow on a large, resilient shrub common across the state.

Delaware: Peach Blossom
Delaware’s well-known peach industry fits with its chosen flower. Peach Blossoms are small(about an inch wide) and range from pink to a pale, almost purple shade.

Florida: Orange Blossom
This flower grows on Florida’s popular citrus trees. The white petals stand out against the dark leaves, and the blossoms carry a strong, pleasant fragrance.

Georgia: Cherokee Rose
The Cherokee Rose has five bright white petals and can grow up to four inches across. It’s a long-established symbol in Georgia.

Hawaii: Hibiscus
The Hibiscus has a trumpet-like shape and comes in bold colors such as pink, red, yellow, and orange. It grows on woody shrubs across the islands.

Idaho: Syringa
Also known as the Mock Orange, the Syringa is a white, eye-catching bloom that grows either alone or in clusters. It’s a very common plant in Idaho.

Illinois: Blue Violet
Illinois chose the Blue Violet because it grows widely there. The state has several types of blue-flowered violets, usually found close to the ground.

Indiana: Peony
Peonies are large, flowers full of drama and charm. They appear in gardens in shades of red, white, and yellow. Many people plant them for their size alone.

Iowa: Wild Rose
The Wild Rose grows naturally with little care. It shows up in various pink tones, and its bright yellow center stands out.

Kansas: Sunflower
The Sunflower is one of the most recognizable state symbols anywhere. It has many long yellow petals surrounding a central brown disk.

Kentucky: Goldenrod
Goldenrod plants have tiny yellow flowers, each less than a quarter-inch wide. They bloom from late summer through fall.

Louisiana: Magnolia
Louisiana’s state flower is the Magnolia, which is large and memorable. With 6 to 12 thick white petals, it’s considered a classic Southern emblem.

Maine: White Pine Cone and Tassel
Maine is the only state that selected a cone and tassel instead of a flower. This choice reflects the state’s deep connection to the lumber industry.

Maryland: Black-eyed Susan
This flower has bright yellow petals and a dark brown center. It grows up to about three inches wide and handles full sun very well.

Massachusetts: Mayflower
The Mayflower blooms early in the year, showing white and pink petals. It’s tied to a great deal of state history.

Michigan: Apple Blossom
Michigan chose the Apple Blossom from the American Crabapple. The flowers are white or pink and often appear as an early sign of spring.

Minnesota: Lady’s Slipper
This orchid is protected by law. It features white petals and a pink-marked “slipper” shape, making it easy to identify.

Mississippi: Magnolia
Mississippi also selected the Magnolia. These blooms are large, cup-shaped, and creamy white.

Missouri: White Hawthorn Blossom
White Hawthorn flowers grow in clusters on trees. Their petals are pure white, and the centers have noticeable red stamens.

Montana: Bitterroot
The Bitterroot is a sturdy plant with petals that range from rose-colored to deep pink or white. It grows stubbornly low to the ground.

Nebraska: Goldenrod

Nebraska chose the Goldenrod, too. It produces yellow clusters that bloom for about a month in late summer.

Nevada: Sagebrush
Sagebrush features tiny, tubular, yellowish flowers. It’s one of the most common plants in Nevada’s dry environment and is known for its sharp scent.

New Hampshire: Purple Lilac
Purple Lilac is recognized for its powerful fragrance. The blooms come in cream, white, or purple-pink and grow in thick bunches.

New Jersey: Common Blue Violet
This small flower has five violet-colored petals and measures under an inch across. It often appears in lawns.

New Mexico: Yucca
Yucca flowers are greenish-white and shaped like bells, hanging downward. The plant is hardy and grows tall in desert areas.

New York: Rose
New York selected the Rose, one of the world’s most familiar flowers. It exists in countless colors and patterns.

North Carolina: Dogwood
Dogwood flowers appear in early spring and last into summer. They’re usually white but can be pink or red, and they span about two inches.

North Dakota: Wild Prairie Rose
This rose grows naturally across open plains. It shows petals from pink to white and blooms throughout the summer months.

Ohio: Scarlet Carnation
Ohio’s Scarlet Carnation is a red bloom about two inches wide, known for its mild fragrance.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Rose
This hybrid rose has a dark, almost black-red color in warm weather. It is known for its strong scent. Can be found at local flower shops in Tulsa –quite easily!

Oregon: Oregon Grape
The Oregon Grape plant carries small, bright yellow blooms on a shrub with sharp, holly-like leaves.

Pennsylvania: Mountain Laurel
Like Connecticut, Pennsylvania chose Mountain Laurel. These sturdy blooms range from white to rose and sometimes show purple markings.

Rhode Island: Common Blue Violet
Rhode Island also selected the Common Blue Violet, which blooms from April to May and is easy to find in spring.

South Carolina: Carolina Yellow Jessamine
This vine has bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers with a strong fragrance. It’s one of the earliest blooms of the season.

South Dakota: American Pasque Flower
The Pasque Flower has up to seven sepals that resemble petals. They range from purple to white and appear right after the snow melts.

Tennessee: Iris
Tennessee’s Iris is a large, colorful plant found in white, lavender, yellow, and blue shades.

Texas: Bluebonnet
The Bluebonnet is a low-growing plant that covers fields in blue clusters. The flowers resemble pea blossoms.

Utah: Sego Lily
The Sego Lily has white, goblet-shaped flowers about three inches wide. It once served as an important food source for early settlers.

Vermont: Red Clover
Red Clover has round or oval flower heads that appear in pink to red shades. It’s a useful plant common in fields.

Virginia: American Dogwood
Virginia shares the Dogwood with North Carolina. The blooms are around two inches wide and signal early spring.

Washington: Coast Rhododendron
This shrub grows large, showy rose-purple blooms up to one and a half inches long.

West Virginia: Rhododendron
West Virginia also chose the Rhododendron. Its flowers show up in late spring and are usually white or pale pink.

Wisconsin: Wood Violet
The Wood Violet has five blue or purple petals that grow on leafless stalks. It’s a tough plant and one of the most loved state flowers of the USA.

Wyoming: Indian Paintbrush
The Indian Paintbrush is known for its bright red to yellow blooms. It flowers all summer and stands out in Wyoming’s dry landscape.

If you’re around Creek County, you could ask a florist in Sapulpa, OK, for advice on caring for state flowers that aren’t native to Oklahoma’s soil. And if you ever want to bring a few of these blooms home—or just see what’s available right now—take a look at Mrs. DeHavens Flower Shop.