Missouri’s State Flower

The goldenrod might have been adopted as Missouri’s state flower. But, at the time, it already represented four other states. In addition, many Missourians considered it a weed.

In January 1916, Miss Marie L. Goodman spoke at the annual meeting of the Missouri State Horticultural Society. Her topic was a Missouri state flower.

Inspired, a committee was formed to learn what flower residents favored. Twenty-seven flowers were voted on. Favorites included the aster, honeysuckle, black-eyed Susan, violet, burdock, and hollyhock. The wild rose took second place, but the wild crab apple blossom won by a wide margin. However, the legislature refused to adopt it.

Another organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution, took up the torch in 1919. First, they opted for the daisy. But they then realized it isn’t native to Missouri. They also mistakenly believed it had been adopted by North Carolina.

Enter the Hawthorn

It was Mrs. Walter Washington Graves, of Jefferson City, who nominated the hawthorn. Three years later, both the hawthorn and the daisy were introduced. But neither bill passed.

Mrs. Graves did her homework. Her State Flower Committee sought the support of influential groups. Their supporters included the Missouri Teachers’ Association and the Missouri Sons of the Revolution.

Hawthorn supporters talked about the role the plant played in art and culture in Europe and Asia. They noted that early settlers in Missouri made jelly out of hawthorn berries. (“Haw” is the name of the berry.)

The primary theme was that the hawthorn is native to Missouri and is a wild flower and potent symbol. In the end, the legislature agreed.

Miss Sarah Lucile Turner was given the honor of introducing the hawthorn bill. She was the first woman elected to the Missouri Legislature. The bill passed, and the hawthorn was adopted on March 17, 1923.

Image courtesy
of the Santalady

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