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State Flowers

State Flower of Louisiana

Flower: Magnolia and Louisiana Iris (Magnolia spp. & Giganticaerulea)

Louisiana and neighboring Mississippi both chose the magnolia as their state flower in 1900. Louisiana made its flower official on August 1, 1900. It has reigned peacefully ever since, except for a challenge in 1950.

The Louisiana Iris Society decided it was time for a change. They introduced a bill to name the iris as the Louisiana state flower and also arranged for another bill naming the magnolia the state tree. They thought that might appease magnolia fans. But it didn’t. There was also some interest in adopting the fleur-de-lis, or stylized lily. It is a symbol of France, to which many Louisianans trace their roots.

The magnolia is both the state flower and tree of Mississippi, and Louisiana later adopted the Louisiana iris as its state wildflower!