America's State Flowers: Colorado, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Guam

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden is showcasing the flowers each U.S. state and territory has chosen as their official flower. The April-October 2026 exhibit shares their sights and stories with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations, and herbarium specimens.

From fragrant magnolia flowers and roses to native orchids, bluebonnets, and saguaro cactus flowers, enjoy the variety as we feature the floral beauty that symbolizes America.

See the full list on our America's State Flowers webpage, and continue reading to learn more as we showcase each official flower.

Colorado | Connecticut & Pennsylvania | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Guam

COLORADO

Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Found along the state's iconic Rocky Mountains, these flowers can resemble a group of white birds. Fittingly, the flower's common name, "columbine," comes from the Latin word for "dove."

Bloom time: April-May

CONNECTICUT & PENNSYLVANIA

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Native to forests of the eastern United States, the mountain laurel was exported from the U.S. to Europe by colonists to ornament English gardens.

The Connecticut General Assembly designated it in 1907, after more than 3,000 women sent springs of mountain laurel to the desks of lawmakers.

Pennsylvania named it their state flower in 1933, after the state legislature passed two competing bills — one for mountain laurel, one for pink azalea — and the governor was forced to choose which to sign.

[Fun note: There are so many songs about mountain laurel if you’re inspired to hear some flower-themed songs!]

Bloom time: April-June

DELAWARE

Peach blossom (Prunus persica)

When it was chosen as the state flower in 1895, Delaware had many thriving peach orchards, making it the first to bear the nickname "the Peach State."

Bloom time: March-April

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Rose (Rosa 'American Beauty')

Although originally developed in France, the pink-to-crimson cultivar became the best-selling rose in the United States during the early 20th century. It was named D.C.'s official flower in 1925.

Find this fragrant rose in our Rose Garden.

Bloom time: Late April-Mid June

FLORIDA

Orange blossom (Citrus)

Though native to Asia, orange trees made their way to Florida with Spanish colonizers. The white blossoms have become an iconic symbol of the state and its citrus industry. Today, oranges are grown in about 375,000 acres in Florida, though the industry is battling citrus greening disease and loss of land. The leading producers of oranges in the U.S. are California and Florida.

Bloom time: April-May

GEORGIA

Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Georgia's current state flower, the sweetbay magnolia, was a recent selection, replacing the Cherokee rose in March 2026. Legislators approved the change after a push to feature a native plant, whose flowers, leaves, and seeds support local wildlife. It is native to the eastern and southeastern United States.

Find this state flower in our Bartholdi Gardens.

Bloom time: April-June

GUAM

Puti tai nobio (Bougainvillea spp.)

Called puti tai nobio (meaning "it hurts not to have a boyfriend") in the Indigenous Chamorro language, bougainvillea is commonly grown in Guam, but is not native to the island.

As part of our "Fierce Flora" exhibit, we point out bougainvillea's effective structural defenses — thorns! A thorn is stem tissue that evolved to grow into a sharp point. Are sharp plants out to get you? Not you personally, but these physical defenses evolved in the presence of plant-eating animals. Plants with more thorns, prickles, and spines are equipped to fend off herbivores.

Bloom time: June-August

This is part two of an eight article blog series. Keep checking usbg.gov/blog to explore the rest of this series, and stop by the Garden to see the exhibit in person before it closes October 12, 2026!