The state flower movement was inspired by the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Many states adopted flowers to represent them at the Fair. Amazingly, Illinois wasn’t among them.
The purple iris had been suggested as Illinois’ state flower in 1893. But it was never adopted.
Finally, Mrs. James C. Fessler decided it was time that Illinois had a state flower and tree. She resided in the small town of Rochelle. Mrs. Fessler asked Rochelle’s Superintendent of Schools for help in organizing a vote among school children.
Her effort blossomed into a statewide campaign. In 1907, the purple violet was announced the winner with about 16,000 votes. It was followed by the wild rose, with some 11,000 votes, and the goldenrod, with less than 5,000. More votes were later cast, but the ranking remained unchanged, and the purple violet was adopted as Illinois’ state flower on January 21, 1908.
Which Purple Violet?
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, at least thirty species of violet are common in Illinois. Not all of them are violet. Some are yellow, white, even an unusual green! However, these presumably aren’t considered official, since Illinois adopted the “purple violet.”
Many people consider the common woolly blue violet (Viola sororia) Illinois’ state flower. It is the most common violet in the state and grows in each of Illinois’ 102 counties.
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