Favorite Flowers by State

Flowers by State

It's hard to miss the explosion of interest in gardening, edible gardening and backyard outdoor activities in general while the coronavirus keeps us all at home. But we are still longing to connect to the natural world. In the midst of the pandemic, flower company Breck's says there are clear favorites when it comes to online flower searches by state. Find out your state's favorite flower and learn more about growing and caring for America's favorite 50 flowers.

Alabama: Camellia

Camellias are slow-growing evergreens valuable in the landscape, useful around foundations, as specimen plants, or in borders and hedges. It’s almost unfair that they won’t thrive everywhere, but most are hardy only in Zones 7 to 9, the so-called “camellia belt” of the southern U.S. Breeders are working to develop camellias that can withstand more cold. We tend to associate camellias with the South, but they also grow well in southern California and the Napa Valley area, where the winter is mild and they can bloom without risk of frost.

Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’, (shown here) with its blush-pink blooms, is a good choice for winter color if you live in a mild region of the U.S. It's an evergreen, hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 10, but its flower buds can be damaged by the cold. Grow the plants in filtered sun.

Learn More : Favorite Camellia Varieties Plus Expert Planting and Growing Advice

From: Lynn Coulter

Alaska: African Violet

African violets come in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Flowers can be single, double or semi-double; have ringed or ruffled petals; and appear as blue, purple, lavender, red, pink, magenta, burgundy, crimson, white or bi-colored. Some have variegated foliage or flowers. There are nine species of African violets, eight subspecies and hundreds of varieties and hybrids. But they’re classified generally by size, based on how wide the plant reaches at maturity: miniature, less than 8 inches across, with flowers that are 3/4 inches across; standard, 8 to 16 inches across with flowers that are 2 inches across; and large plants more than 16 inches across with 3-inch flowers.

Learn More : How to Care for Your African Violet

Arizona: Freesia

Colorful, citrus-scented freesias are South African corms (plants such as crocuses, gladioli and cyclamen that feature a rounded, underground storage organ), although they’re sometimes referred to as bulbs. They can be grown in USDA hardiness Zones 7 through 11. Plant them in the fall if you live below Zone 9; otherwise, dig a bed for them in fall and wait until spring to plant. The flowers last a long time in cut arrangements, which makes them popular with florists as well as gardeners, and they’re available in white, blue, orange, violet and yellow.

Arkansas: Gladiolus

Gladioli come primarily from South Africa but are also native to the Canary Islands, England and Turkey. Pros recommend a heavy glass or ceramic vase to support and display their magificent blooms.

Learn More : How to Grow Gladiolus Flowers

California: Orchid

Moth orchids, also known as Phalaenopsis orchids, open flowers that resemble butterflies in flight.

Orchids are native to every continent except Antarctica. That's good news because it means that for any given setting and environment, there's probably an orchid that will feel at home.

These beautiful plants may appear to be fragile and delicate, but they're actually quite durable. In fact, many orchids are even easy to care for. Before you bring one home, though, know what its light and care requirements are so you can give it exactly what it needs. Read the below article for some orchid-care tips.

Learn More : How to Grow and Care for Orchids

Colorado: Columbine

Columbine, in the genus Aquilegia and the Ranunculaceae family is a species of 60 to 70 varieties of herbacious perennial plants that come in a variety of flower colors including red, orange, yellow, purple, white and bi-color. Known for its pretty spurred petals, columbine is also sometimes known as granny's bonnet or crowfoot.

Columbine's genus, Aquilegia derives from the Latin word for "eagle" and refers to the resemblance of the spurs beyond the central flower petals to an eagle's claw.

Learn More : How to Grow Columbine Flowers

Connecticut: Daffodil

Members of the Narcissus family, daffodils include up to 200 various species and more than 25,000 cultivars. They’re available in many different flower shapes, offer varied bloom times, and come in a wide range of colors from shades of the traditional yellow to orange, white, peach, salmon, coral and bi-colors — so you have a variety to choose from.

Learn More : Early-Blooming Daffodils

Washington, DC: Cyclamen

Cyclamen plants feature beautiful blooms and marbled leaves. They look delicate, but cool-weather cyclamen are actually tough soldiers on the planting fields. They spend part of the year in dormancy, and when conditions are right, they stand at attention. In fact, perennial cyclamen are very hardy and are perfect for landscapes in the colder regions of the country.

Learn More : All About Cyclamen

Delaware: Cyclamen

After the holidays, cyclamens need a location with bright, indirect light and cool temperatures. They prefer high humidity, so try grouping them with other plants, or place them in a saucer filled with pebbles and a little water. (Just don't let the roots touch the water, which can cause rotting.) When the flowers finish, the plants will go dormant. Stop watering then and wait until new leaves emerge in fall before you water again.

From: Lynn Coulter

Florida: Hibiscus

Velvety petals spread to a stunning 8 inches across on this dark burgundy Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) variety. The flower centers are nearly black, adding to the rich feel of this bloomer. Plants grow upward to 18 inches and then branch to create a spreading plant that looks good in a hanging basket or on an elevated stand so it can drape down.

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hibiscus

Georgia: Gardenia

The classic corsage flower, gardenia delivers fragrance —and ‘Sweet Tea’ is no exception. Pure white, tennis ball-size blooms contrast beautifully with waxy, deep green leaves. Plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, with a strong upright shape. The secret to a happy gardenia in the landscape is thick mulch, no soil disturbance (roots like to be left alone) and monthly feeding with an acid fertilizer, blood meal or fish emulsion. Grow ‘Sweet Tea’ as a hedge, or tuck it in a pot you can place beside your favorite outdoor seat to keep the perfume close at hand. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10.

Learn More : How to Grow and Care for Gardenia Plants

Hawaii: Orchid

Caring for orchids that belong to the hardy group isn’t difficult. These are low-maintenance native plants. The easiest types of hardy orchid plants to grow are bletilla, which is also known as ground or Chinese orchid, and calanthe.

Learn More : Orchids: Caring for Orchids

Idaho: Geraniums

On the whole, geraniums are full-sun plants. They crave sunshine and do well in locations where they receive at least six hours of sun. In warmest areas of the country, provide light shade during the hottest part of the day. Martha Washington and ivy geraniums need light shade in all regions as summer temperatures soar.

Learn More : Geranium Care: Your Guide to Growing Geraniums

Illinois: Hyacinth

According to Greek mythology, purple hyacinths were born as flowers of sorrow: the grieving god Apollo created them from the blood of a murdered friend. They’re an appropriate gift for sympathy or for seeking forgiveness.

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hyacinth Flowers

Indiana: Alstroemeria

Also known as Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, alstroemeria flowers, which resemble clusters of miniature lilies, bloom in late spring and early summer in an array of colors – orange, pink, purple, rose, red, yellow and white – many of them with striped petals. Many hybrids and about 200 cultivars have been developed over the years, making them a florist's staple for bouquets, widely available even in supermarkets. Of course, from a marketing perspective, it doesn’t hurt that alstroemeria, which offer no fragrance, symbolize friendship and devotion. Alstroemeria bloom in a wide variety of colors, from orange to pink, purple, red and white.

Iowa: Cyclamen

Cyclamen flowers resemble resting butterflies and this perennial cyclamen is very hardy so it's perfect for landscapes in the colder regions of the country.

Learn More : All About Cyclamen

Kansas: Phlox

Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata, is one of the stars of the summer show. These pretty perennials make a great backdrop for mixed beds and borders, and their fragrant blooms are nearly irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers are also good for cutting and enjoying in vases.

Most garden phlox will grow in USDA hardiness Zones 4 to 8.

Learn More : Planting and Growing Garden Phlox

Kentucky: Gladiolus

This rich red gladioli from Longfield Gardens brings intense color to the garden. For the longest-lasting arrangements, cut tall, elegant gladiolus when a few of the buds are no more than half open. Then put the stems in warm water in a cool, dark location for a few hours before moving them into water mixed with floral preservative. For best results, use water that doesn't contain fluoride; glads are sensitive to this chemical.

Learn More : How to Grow Gladiolus Flowers

Louisiana: Lily

'Tiny Rocket' is a dwarf Asiatic lily that was developed in the Netherlands and was originally created for container gardens. There are dozens of different garden and indoor plants called lilies — peace lilies, daylilies, lily-of-the-valley. But to horticulturists and garden purists, only those in the genus Lilium are true lilies. And within that group, the sub-group of Asiatic lilies may be the easiest and most versatile for home gardeners. They have the broadest color range, grow almost anywhere, bloom early, and mix happily with a variety of other perennials, annuals and shrubs in a colorful garden setting.

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Asiatic Lilies

Maine: Begonia

This summer bloomer transforms any yard into the envy of the neighborhood. Plants sparkle in sun or shade and offer strong stems that grow 12 to 24 inches tall. In the landscape plant begonia in mass in beds, or tuck into containers.

Learn More : Begonias: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Begonias

Maryland: Hyacinth

These pretty flowers appear in early spring, breaking ground while frost is still in the forecast. Sometimes a hard freeze can nip the tips of leaves, turning them brown, but flower buds are typically untouched. Look for hyacinths with blooms in shades including blue, purple, pink, yellow and white. A cluster of hyacinth bulbs can scent a small garden.

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hyacinth Flowers

Massachusetts: Canna

Gorgeous and easy-growing, canna lilies add colorful, tropical flair to any garden. These south-of-the-border beauties hail from tropical America, where the roots were once a food staple in Peru and Ecuador. In the garden, canna lilies deliver vertical interest with strong, tall stalks. Large, substantial leaves provide bold texture for planting designs.

Learn More : How to Use Canna Lily in the Garden

Michigan: Hyacinth

The hyacinth cultivar Hyacinthus Orientalis Hollyhock (shown here) is characterized by its intense pink color.

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hyacinth Flowers

Minnesota: Crocus

The cup-shaped flowers of the crocus, ranging from white to yellow to purple and even bi-colors, bloom on 2- to 4-inch-tall stems with grass-like foliage as early as January. (There are fall-blooming varieties as well; they’re planted in late summer and produce flowers without foliage.) Like most bulbs, they look best planted in masses or drifts, and because they are perennial, crocuses naturalize easily, giving you more bang for your buck with each passing year. And an added bonus: for the most part crocuses are squirrel, rabbit and deer proof.

Learn More : Crocuses Pack a Powerful Punch

Mississippi: Gardenia

Gardenia is an evergreen shrub, typically hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 11, that’s beloved for intoxicatingly fragrant, creamy white flowers and thick, glossy leaves. Thanks to smart breeding, some newer varieties are known to be hardy to Zone 7 or even Zone 6.

Named for Alexander Garden, a Scottish physician and botanist who lived in Charleston, South Carolina, in the late 1700s, the gardenia is actually native to China and Japan. The bushy plants can reach 8 feet tall, but some varieties are shorter in stature. Long-lasting blooms appear mostly in spring and summer, though some varieties bloom again in fall. No matter the season, if you have gardenias in your garden, passersby will be sure to smell them well before they see them.

Learn More : How to Grow and Care for Gardenia Plants

Missouri: Peony

Peonies are perennials, meaning they return every year, bringing outrageously beautiful blooms to your garden each spring. Peonies have been known to thrive for more than a century, so your peonies may outlive you. They love cold winters and need chilling time to make flowers.

Native to Europe and Asia, peonies have been grown in domestic gardens in Asia for 4,000 years. They gained mass popularity in the West in the 19th century, becoming a staple of Victorian gardens in Europe and the United States. Peonies have remained a garden favorite because they grow such gorgeous blooms and are so hardy.

Sarah Bernhardt peony (shown here) opens fully double, pink blooms in late spring and the 8-inch blossoms offer a gentle fragrance.

Learn More : Peony Flowers: How to Plant and Care for Peonies

Montana: African Violet

African violets thrive in bright, indirect light. Be sure to water the soil and not the leaves to avoid leaf rot.

Learn More : How to Care for Your African Violet

Nebraska: Coneflower

This familiar plant helped launch fresh interest in prairie flowers and has been hybridized into a rainbow of new colors. Get a true native variety, such as pale purple coneflower with drooping petals (Echinacea pallida), for long-lasting blooms and more drought tolerance. There also are yellow varieties, such as Ozark coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa). With several varieties planted, you can keep flowers blooming for three months to keep attracting pollinators. Don’t deadhead and let them go to seed if you want to attract goldfinches.

Learn More : Coneflower Echinacea Seeds

Nevada: Freesia

Freesia produces a mass of bright, citrus-scented flowers.

New Hampshire: Calla Lily

This vibrant 'Fire Dancer' cally lily features gold blossoms tinted with orange and red and foliage spotted white. At various points in history, the calla lily has served as a symbol of life, of death and of eternal beauty. Learn more about the calla lily's many meanings below.

Learn More : Calla Lily Meaning

New Jersey: Tulip

The 'Cafe Noir' tulip features a beautiful, dark shade of chocolate-maroon and flowers in mid-spring. Beautiful as cut flowers and symbols of spring's bounty, tulips can also be grown in the garden if you know when to plant them. In general, you’ll want to plant when the soil is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or less, about 6 inches down. For an idea of when your soil should reach the correct temperature, you’ll need to know your USDA Climate Hardiness Zone. For example, tulips are usually planted in September and October in Zones 4 and 5; October or November in Zones 6 and 7; November to early December in Zones 8 and 9; and as late as January in Zone 10.

Learn More : Planting and Caring for Tulips

New Mexico: Calla Lily

Single-stemmed callas make great cut flowers. While the white varieties are often used in weddings, these trumpet-shaped blooms pair beautifully with roses, hydrangeas, orchids and other flowers for all kinds of arrangements. They even look elegant and striking when they stand alone. The yellow blooms on this heat-loving calla practically glow in the sun.

Learn More : Colorful Calla Lily Varieties

New York: Tea Rose

When the temperatures change, so do the colors of this tea rose 'Sweet Mademoiselle' (shown here). In hot weather, the flowers are light apricot; when it’s cooler, they become peachy-pink to deep pink. The full, double blooms are sweetly scented, held on 5-foot shrubs with dark green foliage. This hybrid tea blooms from summer to fall.

Learn More : 13 Unique Roses to Grow

North Carolina: Lily

Lilies light up the summer garden with their blooms. Like this 'Yellow Diamond' variety, most flower for several weeks. Later, the bulbs need a little TLC to build up energy for next year's show. Luckily, their after-care is surprisingly easy, says Tim Crockenberg, head grower for Stargazer Barn, a source for fresh-cut flowers.

Learn More : 46 Lovely Asiatic Lilies

North Dakota: Cyclamen

Cyclamen make wonderful potted plants with variegated foliage and brilliant blooms.

Ohio: Hyacinth

Hyacinths fill the spring garden with an intoxicating perfume. Start your bulbs in the fall, planting them 7 to 8 inches deep in soil mixed with lots of good organic matter. The planting site should drain easily, so the bulbs won’t rot in soggy soil or standing water. Mulch them if you live where the winters are very cold, or where the ground might freeze in spring. As with other bulbs, don’t remove the foliage when the flowers fade. Let it grow until it dies naturally, so it can store energy up for the next season’s flowers. Shown here: Hyacinth Blend 'Etouffee.'

Learn More : How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hyacinth Flowers

Oklahoma: Iris

Stir up some spring color by including iris flowers in your landscape. This large group of bloomers includes plants that grow from bulbs (Dutch iris, Iris hollandica), as well as traditional perennial types of iris, such as bearded iris (Iris germanica) and Siberian iris (Iris sibirica). There are even reblooming iris, which produce multiple floral displays during the growing year.

Learn More : Iris Flower: Varieties to Grow and How to Care for Them

Oregon: Buttercup

Buttercups, also known as ranunculus (which contain more than 400 flowers in the genus), are beloved by bees, butterflies and birds. They're drought tolerant, making them a good choice for xeriscaping.

Learn More : Growing Ranunculus

Pennsylvania: Canna

Cannas bring a lush, exotic look to your garden. ‘The President’ is a classic, heirloom canna variety, with large red flowers on dark green foliage that are a magnet for hummingbirds. Cannas thrive in hot summer weather but need regular watering. These sun-loving plants are perennial in Zones 7 to 10 but you can dig it up and store it for replanting in colder climates. It reaches about 3 inches in height and blooms from midsummer to first frost. Pair them with other tropical-looking plants like agapanthus and crocomisia.

Learn More : How to Use Canna Lily in the Garden

Rhode Island: Calla Lily

Calla Lilies welcome guests to your home with their sweet and majestic appearance. In truth, calla lilies aren’t really lilies. Botanically speaking, calla lilies are in the arum family, cousin to plants we grow for their leaves — philodendron, caladium, peace lily (also not technically a lily) and anthurium. Those colorful parts we think are petals on calla lily blooms are actually leaves. The calla’s real flower is on a spike inside that whorled leaf we call a flower petal.

How to Grow Calla Lily Flowers

South Carolina: Camellia

'Debutante' is an early blooming camellia with large, light pink flowers. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, and needs filtered sun.

Learn More : 15 Captivating Camellias

South Dakota: Petunia

Petunia plants are easy to please and fill containers and planting beds alike with a season-long show. Plant petunias whenever they’re displayed for sale at local garden centers, starting in spring. In the hottest parts of the country, get petunias planted while days are still cool so they’re fully established before heat arrives. Pinch petunias as you plant to encourage branching.

Learn More : Petunia Flowers: Planting and Caring for Petunias

Tennessee: Buttercup

The lovely, sunny buttercup flower is part of the ranunculus genus of flowers that includes more than 400 varieties.

Learn More : Growing Ranunculus

Texas: Gardenia

The classic corsage flower, gardenia delivers on fragrance — many times over. Pure white blooms contrast beautifully with waxy, deep green leaves. Plants grow 2 to 8 feet tall and wide, depending on type. The secret to a happy gardenia in the landscape is thick mulch, no soil disturbance (roots like to be left alone) and monthly feeding with an acid fertilizer, blood meal or fish emulsion. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10. Shown here: ‘Double Mint’ gardenia.

Utah: Gladiolus

With their tall, sturdy stems and multiple blooms, gladiolus performs beautifully in a cutting garden. Find out more below on growing flowers in your own cutting garden.

Vermont: Begonia

Begonias are annuals or tender perennials that need filtered shade and rich, fast-draining soil. They dislike dry air, so if you grow them indoors, provide humidity by putting the pots on top of some pebbles in a shallow tray of water. Don’t let the roots touch the water. Feed your plants regularly, but avoid overfertilizing, and keep the soil slightly moist.

Learn More : Begonias: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Begonias

Virginia: Peony

Peonies are perennials, meaning they return every year, bringing outrageously beautiful blooms to your garden each spring. Peonies have been known to thrive for more than a century, so your peonies may outlive you. They love cold winters and need chilling time to make flowers.

Native to Europe and Asia, peonies have been grown in domestic gardens in Asia for 4,000 years. They gained mass popularity in the West in the 19th century, becoming a staple of Victorian gardens in Europe and the United States. Peonies have remained a garden favorite because they grow such gorgeous blooms and are so hardy.

Of the more than 6,500 cultivars of peonies, there are just three general types: herbaceous, which grow on green stems; tree, which are woody stemmed shrubs; and itoh, or intersectional, which are a hybrid of tree and herbaceous. Herbaceous peonies are the most widely grown type and the most cold hardy, with some varieties able to withstand temperatures as low as 20 below zero.

Learn More : Peony Flowers: How to Plant and Care for Peonies

Washington: Dahlia

Dahlias make excellent cut flowers. After you bring them inside from the garden, re-cut the stems and let them stand in hot water (160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit) for an hour before arranging them. They should last at least four days.

West Virginia: Sunflower

Sunflowers are the perfect plant for the gardener who wants to seed something and walk away. The plants will grow and flower, producing edible seed for the family or local wildlife, without the gardener lifting a finger (though a little supplemental water will promote rapid germination).

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Wisconsin: Calla Lily

Try your hand at growing calla lily plants. These bloomers are a cinch to grow, and in areas where calla lily bulbs aren’t hardy, you can easily store bulbs for winter. To get started planting calla lily bulbs, choose a spot that’s sunny. In hotter regions, like the Deep South or Desert Southwest, choose a site that’s shaded during the hottest part of the day.

Colorful calla lily flowers (Zantedeschia hybrids) come from bulbs. Typically calla lily bulbs have one side that’s smoother than the other. The side that’s bumpy or has little circular areas produces growing shoots. You might even see calla lily eyes (growing tips) inside the circles.

Learn More : Calla Lily Bulbs

Wyoming: Carnation

These familiar floral faces are a common addition to commercial bouquets because they last so long in the vase— up to 14 days, and frequently longer. Commercially, the majority of carnations are grown in Colombia, Spain and Israel. These pretty blooms can be harvested while in a tight bud stage, shipped worldwide and reliably open in a vase.

Learn More : Carnation Flowers

Most Popular Flowers by State

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Flowers by State

Alabama: Camellia

Alaska: African Violet

Arizona: Freesia

Arkansas: Gladiolus

California: Orchid

Colorado: Columbine

Connecticut: Daffodil

Washington, DC: Cyclamen

Delaware: Cyclamen

Florida: Hibiscus

Georgia: Gardenia

Hawaii: Orchid

Idaho: Geraniums

Illinois: Hyacinth

Indiana: Alstroemeria

Iowa: Cyclamen

Kansas: Phlox

Kentucky: Gladiolus

Louisiana: Lily

Maine: Begonia

Maryland: Hyacinth

Massachusetts: Canna

Michigan: Hyacinth

Minnesota: Crocus

Mississippi: Gardenia

Missouri: Peony

Montana: African Violet

Nebraska: Coneflower

Nevada: Freesia

New Hampshire: Calla Lily

New Jersey: Tulip

New Mexico: Calla Lily

New York: Tea Rose

North Carolina: Lily

North Dakota: Cyclamen

Ohio: Hyacinth

Oklahoma: Iris

Oregon: Buttercup

Pennsylvania: Canna

Rhode Island: Calla Lily

South Carolina: Camellia

South Dakota: Petunia

Tennessee: Buttercup

Texas: Gardenia

Utah: Gladiolus

Vermont: Begonia

Virginia: Peony

Washington: Dahlia

West Virginia: Sunflower

Wisconsin: Calla Lily

Wyoming: Carnation

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