Kentucky may be the only state that would consider adopting a grass as the state flower. After all, Kentucky is nicknamed the Bluegrass State. In fact, bluegrass was adopted as the state flower in 1911. But many people objected that bluegrass represents only Kentucky’s Bluegrass section.
The trumpet vine was once considered Kentucky’s unofficial state flower. The United States War Department used it as a symbol of the Kentucky militia.
But the State Federation of Women’s Clubs agitated for an “appropriate” state flower in 1921. What candidate could be more obvious than the goldenrod? It grows across Kentucky. Better yet, it is depicted on the state flag, which was adopted in 1918.
Battle of the Flowers
The War Department insisted that the trumpet vine remain Kentucky’s floral emblem. Besides, it had already awarded the goldenrod to California.
But Kentuckians weren’t about to let the federal government tell them what their state flower should be. They adopted the goldenrod on March 16, 1926.
A few years later, there was another effort to adopt bluegrass as the state flower. Some people pointed out that goldenrod isn’t very distinctive, since it was common in most states. The bluegrass bill passed the House, but not the Senate.
In 1948 and 1952, two men tried to promote the dogwood blossom as Kentucky’s state flower. A campaign for the redbud was launched in 1953. Garden club members supported the redbud. A redbud bill was passed by the House, but it died in the Senate.
Thus, the goldenrod continues in its tenuous reign as Kentucky’s state flower. As one newspaper reported, “Kentucky has a State flower, but it is probably just what you think it isn’t.”
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