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Virginia State Floral Emblem

Virginia State Flower: American Dogwood © Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Adoption of the Virginia State Floral Emblem

Supported by the Garden Club of Virginia and the Garden Club of Norfolk, the flower of the American dogwood (Cornus florida) was adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia as the official floral emblem of the Commonwealth on March 6, 1918.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 3 read, in part,

A RESOLUTION
to designate a floral emblem for the State of Virginia.

WHEREAS, the adoption of the State floral emblem by the authority of the general assembly would foster a feeling of pride in our State and stimulate an interest in the history and traditions of the Commonwealth, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the senate, the house of delegated concurring, That the flower commonly known as the American Dogwood (Cornus Florida), is hereby declared to be the floral emblem of the State of Virginia.

The Virginia creeper was proposed as well but was defeated.

State Librarian H. R. McIlwaine indicated in a letter dated March 19, 1930, that the blossom of the dogwood was chosen because it is so prevalent in the State and because it adds beauty to the Virginia landscape, especially in the spring.

Though the blossoms found in Virginia vary from white to pink, the legislation does not stipulate a particular color. White flowered American dogwoods are more generally found throughout the state.

The Code of Virginia

The following information is excerpted from the Code of Virginia, Title 7.1, Chapter 5, Section 7.1-38.

Title 7.1 - BOUNDARIES, JURISDICTION AND EMBLEMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH...
Chapter 5 - Song, Floral Emblem, Official Dog, Shell, Beverage, etc. of the Commonwealth.
SECTION 7.1-38.

§ 7.1-38. Floral emblem.

The flower commonly known as American Dogwood (Cornus florida) is declared to be the floral emblem of the Commonwealth.

(Code 1950, § 7-36; 1966, c. 102.)

Additional Information

Virginia State Flower: American Dogwood

Cornus florida, Cornel (Dogwood): Plant Encyclopedia from My Garden Guide.

Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood: University of Connecticut Plant Database of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida L.): Tree Identification Fact Sheet from the Virginia Tech. Landowner Factsheet

Plant Profile for Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood): USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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: Code of Virginia, (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC), September 13, 2005
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

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