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Louisiana State Wildflower
Adoption of the Louisiana State WildflowerInspired by the creation of a National Garland of Flowers for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago (World's Columbian Exposition), the "flower or bloom" of the magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) gained support as state flowers of Louisiana and Mississippi around 1900. Louisiana adopted the magnolia as their official flower in 1900. Mississippi, whose school children voted for the magnolia in 1900, took no official action for 50 years. Mississippi adopted the magnolia as the state's official flower in 1952. In 1941, the Mary Swords DeBaillon Louisiana Native Iris Society was formed by a group of Louisiana iris enthusiasts. In 1948, the group changed its name to the Society for Louisiana Irises. The Society, its membership having grown to about 185 members, proposed legislation in 1950 to replace the magnolia blossom with the Louisiana iris. In an effort to appease the magnolia supporters, legislation was also proposed to make the magnolia the official state tree. The debate between the iris lovers and the magnolia supporters sometimes grew heated. The iris was referred to as a plant that grows in swamps and one magnolia supporter offered, "Lots of people already think that everyone in Louisiana lives in houses on stilts in swamplands and keeps an alligator as a watchdog." An elderly woman who made her living painting and selling magnolia picture testified for the magnolia. Iris supporters thinking that they were taking a more logical presentation for their nominee, contended that the native Louisiana iris can be grown everywhere and that the magnolia, grown throughout the south, is not unique to Louisiana. There was an expectation that redesignating the magnolia as the state tree would placate magnolia supporters. The Society misjudged the appeal of the magnolia and the magnolia retained its position as state flower of Louisiana as it does to this day. President of the Society for Louisiana Irises, Claude W. Davis, wrote after the Louisiana Iris' defeat,
But the Louisiana Iris would be back. As a popular native of Louisiana, it's beauty and stature made a comeback almost inevitable. In 1990, the Louisiana Iris (Iris giganticaerulea) was made the official state wildflower of Louisiana. The Louisiana Revised StatutesThe following information is excerpted from the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 49, Part 8, Section RS 49:154.1. Title 49 - State administration.
There shall be an official state wildflower. The official state wildflower shall be the Louisiana iris (Giganticaerulea). Its use on official documents of the state and with the insignia of the state is hereby authorized. Acts 1990, No. 511, §1. Additional Information
Plant Profile for Iris giganticaerulea Small (Giant Blue Iris): USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Iris giganticaerulea Small (Giant blue iris): from Rodney Barton, The University of North Texas Health Science Center. Society for Lousiana Irises: Web site of the Society for Louisiana Irises. History and Development of The Louisiana Irises: Article by Tom W. Dillard, Little Rock, Arkansas from the pages of the Society of Louisiana Irises. Consider Adding Louisiana Irises To Your Garden: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center: Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. Get It Growing Series Louisiana Iris Pamphlet:
LSU Agricultural Center: Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. Information on culture, watering, fertilization and several other topics. Louisiana Iris: Article about blooming Irises in New Orleans, by Rich Sacher. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Web site for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. State Flower List: List of all of the state flowers. State Birds & Flowers 1000-pc Puzzle: Created at the request of The National Wildlife Federation this design is a beautiful and informative puzzle featuring every state bird perched on the appropriate state flower. State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book U. S. State Flowers in Cross Stitch Quilting Flowers of the States Plants, Seeds & Flowers Gardening Tools State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002 State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and Other Symbols: A Study based on historical documents giving the origin and significance of the state names, nicknames, mottoes, seals, flowers, birds, songs, and descriptive comments on the capitol buildings and on some of the leading state histories, Revised Edition - George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., The H.W. Wilson Company, 1938 (Reprint Services Corp. 1971)
Source: Louisiana Revised Statutes, (http://www.legis.state.la.us/), July 22, 2005
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by Annika Bernhard - 51 accurately detailed, copyright-free renderings include national bird (eagle) and flower (rose) plus 50 state birds and flowers.