Florida State Flower, Orange Blossom (Citrus Sinensis), From NETSATE.COM

Florida State Flower

Orange Blossom

Citrus sinensis

Adopted:1909

Florida State Flower: Orange Blossom

Adoption of the Florida State Flower

La Florida, Spanish for flowery, covered with flowers, or abounding in flowers, was named by Ponce de Leon in 1512. When it came to declaring an official state flower, the Land of Flowers had many, many choices. There was much support for the camellia and much support for the gardenia, but the native orange blossom's fragrance and widespread appeal won the honor. Today, it seems like this choice was simply meant to be.

The orange blossom (Citrus sinensis) was adopted by a Concurrent Resolution of the Florida state legislature on May 5, 1909. The resolution said, in part:

"Whereas, the State of Florida is universally known as the 'Land of Flowers'; therefore,

"Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate Concurring:

"That the Orange Blossom be, and the same is hereby chosen and designated as the State Flower in and for the State of Florida."

Additional Information

Citrus sinensis (Orange Blossom): Plant Encyclopedia from MyGardenGuide.

Orange Blossom (Citrus sinensis): Tree Identification Fact Sheet from the Virginia Tech.

Plant Profile for Citrus sinensis (Orange Blossom): USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Orange Blossoms: Florida's Beloved Bouquets: Copyright July 1998 by Naomi Mathews -- all rights reserved.

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 by Annika Bernhard - 51 accurately detailed, copyright-free renderings include national bird (eagle) and flower (rose) plus 50 state birds and flowers.

U. S. State Flowers in Cross Stitch by Gerda Bengtsson - Botanically correct cross stitch designs of state flowers of the 50 States.

Quilting Flowers of the States by Sue Harvey - A lovely 12-inch flower block for each of the 50 states. Techniques used are piecing, appliqu?, paper-piecing and three-dimensional techniques.

Plants, Seeds & Flowers: Bulbs, seeds, plants, fertilizer, plant containers and more.

Gardening Tools: Pruners, rakes, shovels, hoes, trowels, cultivators and tillers, greenhouses, yard carts and more.

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: Orange Blossoms: Florida's Beloved Bouquets, by Naomi Mathews, Copyright July 1998. Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, Third Edition - Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Greenwood Press, 2002 Source: State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and Other Symbols: Revised Edition (Reprint)- George Earlie Shankle, Ph.D., The H.W. Wilson Company, 1938