Maryland’s State Flower

The 1893 World’s Fair was held in Chicago. States and territories were encouraged to adopt official flowers to represent them at the fair. Though not all states were represented by flowers at the fair, the idea became very popular.

In 1896, a group of women attending a meeting at the Maryland Agricultural College decided Maryland ought to have a state flower. They chose the black-eyed Susan, but it would be more than twenty years before it was adopted.

Along the way, one Senate group tried to get the goldenrod adopted. But the black-eyed Susan’s fans persevered, and it was adopted on April 18, 1918.

Many farmers considered both the black-eyed Susan and goldenrod weeds. There have even been claims that the black-eyed Susan isn’t even native to Maryland. In 1960, an article in the Baltimore Sun said, “Susan came to Maryland, not on the Ark or the Dove, but as a migrant from the Midwest mixed in clover and hayseed.”

However, a botanist explained to me that there are two varieties of black-eyed Susan. One variety is indeed native to the Midwest, where it grows in fields and along roadsides. This plant has been introduced into Maryland.

But there is another, less common variety that is native to Maryland. It grows on relatively undisturbed open sites in the eastern states.

More Honors

The black-eyed Susan is among the most beloved of state flowers. Its popularity is due largely to the fact that it is black and gold (yellow). These were the colors that the first Lord Baltimore used in his coat of arms. These colors also appear in Maryland’s state flag and on its state bird, the Baltimore oriole.

The black-eyed Susan has even been given a special honor at the Preakness. This is a famous horse race held at Pimlico in Baltimore. Winning horses are draped with blankets made of flowers. In 1940, a new tradition was begun—the winner was given a blanket of black-eyed Susans...or were they?

In fact, Maryland’s state flower isn’t even in bloom on Preakness Day in May. Instead, yellow daisies are used, with the centers painted with black shoe polish!

A National Flower?

In 1959, Maryland Senator Glenn Beall suggested that the black-eyed Susan be adopted as the United States’ national flower. Remember the black-eyed Susan’s competitor, the goldenrod? In 1893, Alabamians proposed it for adoption as the national flower as well.

In fact, a variety of plants have been nominated for this honor. Governor Beall said, “We have heard proposed here the subsidized corn tassel, the lowly grass, the poor, overworked rose, the tough repelling marigold. But we need look no further. Here I give you the black-eyed Susan, an appropriate and worthy national flower . . .”

Many Maryland residents didn’t agree. They had no desire to share their state flower. But one resident saw nothing wrong with it. After all, the United States’ national anthem was written in Baltimore.

Image courtesy
of the Santalady

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