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What Is the State Flower of New Jersey? Facts & FAQs
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
Did you know that every state has an official state flower? The Viola sororia is the official state flower of New Jersey, and there are plenty of other fun facts to learn about it!
What Is the State Flower of New Jersey?
The state flower of New Jersey is the Viola sororia, also known as the common meadow violet. The plants itself is between 6 and 10 inches tall and has purple flowers.
Unlike many flowers that keep their petals as high up as possible, the Viola sororia’s petals droop toward the ground. It’s a beautiful flower, but it doesn’t stand out as much as some other violet varieties.
Image By: Needpix
How Did New Jersey Pick Its State Flower?
While the common meadow violet didn’t officially gain permanent recognition in New Jersey until 1971, it was part of a resolution for the state in 1913. However, the resolution lost its power when the next legislative session began, leaving New Jersey without a state flower.
New Jersey had several gardening clubs, and they pushed New Jersey to officially recognize the common meadow violet as the state flower in the ‘70s.
New Jersey highlighted this flower due to its natural beauty and abundance throughout the state.
What Other States Have the Violet as a State Flower?
New Jersey is one of four states that has a violet as its state flower. The other three states are Illinois, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island all have the Viola sororia, while Wisconsin has the Viola papilionacea.
Image Credit: Needpix
What’s the Difference Between a Viola Papilonacea and a Viola Sororia?
It all comes down to the family of plants. The Viola family includes all violets, which encompasses more than 500 different plant species. The Viola sororia is just one of those species.
So, while Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island highlight the Viola sororia, also known as the common meadow violet, Wisconsin highlights the Viola papilionacea, or the wood violet.
Final Thoughts
While the Viola sororia is a flower that you can find all over the eastern side of the United States and Canada, there’s no denying that it’s especially abundant in New Jersey.
So, the next time you see a common meadow violet growing, think about New Jersey and how it’s their state flower.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
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Writer
Pete Ortiz
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
