50 State Flowers, State Tree, State Birds, and 50 State Nicknames USA

50 State Flowers

50 State Flowers, State Tree, State Birds, and 50 State Nicknames USA

For all states, the state flowers represent history, a symbol of time and tradition, of passion and work.

Dating back to the 1800s, states began to form their own personalities, identifying themselves with their own flags, state flowers, state trees, state birds, and even their own nicknames. Each state adopted things that every resident or tourist could identify with the state’s name, effectively branding the state and making it memorable for all.

Legislatures, residents, historians combed the world for the perfect flower to represent their state, but many states, such as California’s bursting red poppy, were able to find their perfect flowers in their own backyards.

In fact, two states found a state flower that isn’t a flower at all. Read on to learn about state flowers, and to find the two states that thought outside of the box.

50 State Flowers: Beauty, Bride, and History – Growing history

Before women were allowed to vote nationally, Washington State let them, and only them, vote on what people would come to associate with the state’s flower for decades to come: the coast rhododendron.

In 1892, the state was one of the last to officially name its state flower. After hundreds of suggestions were put through, more than 15,000 women across the state voted in a voting booth. And 53% of those women voted on the beautiful pink and white rhododendron.

That’s just one example of how state flowers have defined a state, represented its history, or even helped push forward a political movement. Because shortly thereafter, women across the country began rallying to get their voices heard about political climates outside of state gardens.

The purple lilac in New Hampshire is a representation of the state’s residents’ hardy character. The Bitterroot became Montana’s state flower only after a member of the Montana Women’s Christian Temperance Union crusaded to convince the legislature to listen up, and allow all people, men, and women, to vote for the flower.

California’s golden poppy is rooted in the state’s hillsides from north to south, a beautiful yellow flower that mimics the states seemingly everlasting sunshine.

Not exactly a flower, but…

Maine’s white pine cone and tassel is not a flower at all, but it was selected as the state’s flower in 1894 after officials saw the cone in a floral emblem at the World Fair.

The two large divisions in the plant species are flowering plants, angiosperms, or plants with cones, gymnosperms. All other states have flowers for their actual state flower, but Maine decided to be a little different. So technically, Maine has a state gymnosperm!

Oklahoma’s floral emblem, the Mistletoe, is not actually a flower either. But it is a flowering plant, which is close enough. Actually, Oklahoma is one of several states that have a state flower, a state wildflower, and a state emblem. For clarity’s sake, the list is the state’s official floral emblem. But most states don’t differentiate between the two.

Match your state to its state flower

Alabama: Camelia

Alaska: Forget-me-not

Arizona: Saguaro cactus blossom

Arkansas: Apple blossom

Colorado: Rocky Mountain Columbine

Connecticut: Mountain laurel

District of Columbia: American Beauty rose

Delaware: Peach blossom

Florida: Orange blossom

Georgia: Cherokee rose

Hawaii: Pua aloalo

Idaho: Syringa mock orange

Illinois: Purple violet

Indiana: Peony

Iowa: Wild prairie rose

Kansas: Sunflower

Kentucky: Goldenrod

Louisiana: Magnolia

Maine: Eastern white pine tassel and cone

Maryland: Black-eyed Susan

Massachusetts: Mayflower

Michigan: Apple blossom

Minnesota: Pink and white lady slipper

Mississippi: Magnolia

Missouri: Hawthorn

Montana: Bitterroot

Nebraska: Goldenrod

Nevada: Sagebrush

New Hampshire: Purple lilac

New Jersey: Violet

New Mexico: Yucca

New York: Rose

North Carolina: American Dogwood

North Dakota: Wild prairie rose

Northern Marianas: Plumeria

Ohio: Scarlet Carnation

Oklahoma: Mistletoe

Oregon: Oregon grape

Pennsylvania: Mountain laurel

Rhode Island: Violet

South Carolina: Yellow Jessamine

South Dakota: Pasque flower

Tennessee: Iris

Texas: Texas bluebonnet

Utah: Sego lily

Vermont: Red clover

Virginia: Flowering dogwood

Washington: Coast rhododendron

Wisconsin: Wood violet

Wyoming: Indian paintbrush

Unlike a lot of the state’s flowers, all but one of the state trees in the 50 states are indigenous to the state. But just like the flowers, each state tree is rooted in history.

50 State Trees: Rooted in Local History

Treaties in the trees

50 State Trees: Rooted in Local History

Trees make up a large part of American history, from Christmas trees during the holidays, to the time-honored story of the treaty in the white oak. A great, white oak in Hartford, Connecticut, once hid in its hollowed bark the charter for the colony, to protect from those who wanted the rights of the colony to be given back to England.

Natural history

Tennessee’s Tulip Poplar grows from one end of the long state to the other. California’s Redwood forests are havens for botanical tourists, or even those just curious about the tallest trees in the country, big enough at the base to drive a truck through. Nebraska and Wyoming’s official state tree, the Cottonwood, blankets the ground every spring with tender, white fluffs of seeds. Delaware’s American Holly brightens up the holidays with its beautiful, red and green berry groupings.

Every state tree, except for Hawaii’s Kukui tree, was a staple in each state, thus leading to its adoption. A representation of the state’s pride and history, the state tree is a symbol of growth, power, stability, and sturdiness.

Popular State Trees

Texas was the first state to ever adopt a state tree, choosing the Pecan in 1919. Other states quickly followed, with Rhode Island being the last in 1964 with its Red Maple.

But the most popular state trees are the sugar maple and white oak; both trees were each adopted in four different states. The white oak is a fantastic source of hardwood for builders, but its sturdiness, beauty, and longevity have made it an easy choice for Iowa, Maryland, Connecticut, and Illinois.

Sap and sugar can be extracted from Sugar Maples, the state tree for West Virginia, Wisconsin, New York, and Vermont. Native Americans taught settlers how to extract the delicious sap, and to use it for flavoring and potash.

State Tree List

Alabama: Southern Longleaf Pine

Alaska: Sitka Spruce

Arizona: Palo Verdi

Arkansas: Pine

California: California Redwood

Colorado: Colorado Blue Spruce

Connecticut: White Oak

Delaware: American Holly

Florida: Sabal Palmetto Palm

Georgia: Live Oak

Hawaii: Kukui Tree

Idaho: White Pine

Illinois: White Oak

Indiana: Tulip Tree

Iowa: Oak

Kansas: Eastern Cottonwood

Kentucky: Tulip Poplar

Louisiana: Bald Cypress

Maine: White Pine

Maryland: White Oak

Massachusetts: American Elm

Michigan: White Pine

Minnesota: Red Pine

Mississippi: Magnolia

Missouri: Flowering Dogwood

Montana: Ponderosa Pine

Nebraska: Cottonwood

50 State Birds United State Of America

A beakful of history

50 State Birds United State Of America

The Blue Hen Chicken, with its brilliant autumn coloring and perfect, swirling tail, is known for its fighting ability and used in political campaigns as a symbol of strength. That’s why Delaware stepped outside of the box and designated the Blue Hen Chicken as its state bird.

All state birds are steeped in history, representing a state and its residents.

Oklahoma’s state bird is one worth watching, with its dipping and diving mating dance and it’s unique, scissor-tail. The state birds’ fly dance is a sight to see, and something that people drive through the state to watch.

Some states not only have official state birds, but also official game birds. Alabama’s official state bird, for example, is the yellow-hammer. But it’s a game bird is the wild turkey. Georgia has both too: the official state bird is the Brown Thrasher, and the official game bird is the Bobwhite Quail. Mississippi has an official waterfowl, the Wood Duck. And Idaho has an official state raptor, the Peregrine falcon.

For clarity, all birds on the state birds list below are official state birds only.

The Coolest of All the State Birds

With its medley of beautiful songs, the mockingbird has become one of the most popular state birds. In fact, five states have taken on the charming mockingbird as their state bird.

A mockingbird actually mimics songs from other species, repeating the songs at least three times before moving on to another. Most mockingbirds have a medley of up to 30 different bird songs!

But that beautiful bird isn’t the most popular. Seven states have adopted the red cardinal, a bird that’s imitated and replicated throughout sports history.

State Birds List

Alabama: Yellow-hammer

Alaska: Alaska Willow Ptarmigan

Arizona: Coues’ Cactus Wren

Arkansas: Mockingbird

California: California Valley Quail

Colorado: Lark Bunting

Connecticut: American Robin

Delaware: Blue Hen Chicken

Florida: Mockingbird

Georgia: Brown Thrasher

Hawaii: Nene (Hawaiian Goose)

Idaho: Mountain Bluebird

Illinois: Cardinal

Indiana: Cardinal

Iowa: Eastern Goldfinch

Kansas: Western Meadowlark

Kentucky: Cardinal

Louisiana: Brown Pelican

Maine: Chickadee

Maryland: Baltimore Oriole

Massachusetts: Chickadee

Michigan: Robin Red Breast

Minnesota: Common Loon

Mississippi: Mockingbird

Missouri: Bluebird

Montana: Western Meadowlark

Nebraska: Western Meadowlark

Nevada: Mountain Bluebird

New Hampshire: Purple Finch

New Jersey: Eastern Goldfinch

New Mexico: Chaparral Bird (Roadrunner)

New York: Bluebird

North Carolina: Cardinal

North Dakota: Western Meadowlark

Ohio: Cardinal

Oklahoma: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Oregon: Western Meadowlark

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red

South Carolina: Carolina Wren

South Dakota: Ring-necked Pheasant

Tennessee: Mockingbird

Texas: Mockingbird

Utah: California Gull

Vermont: Hermit Thrush

Virginia: Cardinal

Washington: Willow Goldfinch

West Virginia: Cardinal

Washington Willow Goldfinch

West Virginia: Cardinal

Wisconsin: Robin

Wyoming: Western Meadowlark

U.S. State Nicknames

U.S. State Nicknames

One State, so many Names

It’s true. Some people get a little carried away with nicknames. But so do state officials and residents, apparently. Almost all states have at least four nicknames, with Arizona racking in seven! But a couple of states have stuck with only a few nicknames, and Iowa has only one. Not all 50 u.s. states nicknames have official nicknames, and many change them as the image of the state changes and grows. Below, you’ll find the two most common nicknames for states. Some are marked “official,” because those names were officially adopted by the state.

Alabama

The Heart of Dixie The Yellowhammer State



Alaska

The Last Frontier The Land of the Midnight Sun



Arizona

The Grand Canyon State The Copper State



Arkansas

Official: The Natural State Other: The Land of Opportunity



California

Official: The Golden State Other: The Land of Milk and Honey



Colorado

The Centennial State The Silver State



Connecticut

Official: The Constitution State Other: The Nutmeg State



Delaware

Official: The First State Other: The Diamond State



Florida

The Sunshine State The Alligator State



Georgia

The Empire State of the South The Peach State



Hawaii

Official: The Aloha State Other: The Pineapple State



Idaho

The Gem State Gem of the Mountains



Illinois

The Prairie State Land of Lincoln



Indiana

Crossroads of America The Hoosier State



Iowa

The Hawkeye State



Kansas

The Sunflower State The Jayhawk State



Kentucky

The Bluegrass State The Hemp State



Louisiana

The Pelican State The Bayou State



Maine

The Pine Tree State The Lumber State



Maryland

The Old Line State The Free State



Massachusetts

The Bay State The Old Colony State



Michigan

The Wolverine State The Great Lakes State



Minnesota

The North Star State The Gopher State



Mississippi

The Magnolia State The Eagle State



Missouri

The Show-Me State The Bullion State



Montana

The Treasure State Big Sky Country



Nebraska

Official: The Cornhusker State Other: Home of Arbor Day



Nevada

The Silver State The Sagebrush State



New Hampshire

The Granite State The White Mountain State



New Jersey

The Garden State The Clam State



New Mexico

Official: Land of Enchantment Other: The Cactus State



New York

The Empire State The Excelsior State



North Carolina

The Tar Heel State The Old North State



North Dakota

Official: The Peace Garden State Other: The Sioux State



Ohio

Official: The Buckeye State Other: Mother of Modern Presidents



Oklahoma

The Sooner State Boomer’s Paradise



Oregon

The Beaver State The Web-foot State



Rhode Island

Official: The Ocean State Other: Little Rhody



South Carolina

The Palmetto State The Rice State



South Dakota

Official: The Mount Rushmore State Other: The Sunshine State



Tennessee

Volunteer State The Big Bend State



Texas

The Lone Star State The Beef State



Utah

The Beehive State The Mormon State



Vermont

The Green Mountain State



Virginia

Old Dominion Mother of Presidents



Washington

Official: The Evergreen State The Chinook State



West Virginia

The Mountain State Switzerland of America



Wisconsin

The Badger State The Copper State



Wyoming

The Equality State Big Wyoming



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