Texas State Flower: Bluebonnet

Texas State Flower Coloring 

One of the most unusual flowers, the Bluebonnet, is the State Flower of Texas. They are a type of Lupine, but the particular lupine that they are grows mostly only in Texas. The flowers sort of resemble the bonnets that pioneer women wore which is where they got their name. They bloom in the Spring, usually April to May, but can start in March if the weather is warmer that year. 

In South Texas all the way up to the Dallas area, they blanket the fields turning them into beautiful Blue landscapes.  They often have Indian Paintbrush mixed in so the fields look Blue with dots of Red.

Texans like to take photos of themselves in front of those fields. They also grow along the highways, and usually the Texas Department of Public Safety issues a warning in the Spring to motorists that implores them to be careful when stopping on highways to take photos. It's actually better to go off the highways and onto the back roads to see the fields of Blue anyway. 

My family is from Texas and when I was growing up there, it was an annual trip to go to the Hill Country North of San Antonio to see the Bluebonnets. 

As their name implies, they are Blue, with a tiny bit of White at the top of the plant which later turns Blue too, as the season wears on. Some of them smell very sweet, but many of them don't seem to have a scent at all, just their beauty. I love Bluebonnets, can you tell?

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Tennessee State Flower: Iris

Tennessee State Flower Coloring

Iris, Art and Coloring by Heather Burns

Tennessee has one of the most beautiful State Flowers in my opinion, the Iris. 

Tennessee is also one of the states that chose a separate Wildflower, in their case, the Passion Flower but the official State Flower is the Iris. 

The Iris is a very Orchid looking flower, but it is its own species. The Iris has 6 petals, 3 that are upright, and 3 that fall away from the center, called "falls." 

Irises bloom in the Spring, and are available in many colors, from White, to Yellow, to Blue, to Pink, Red, and shades of Purple. In Tennessee you most often see them in shades of Purple. 

They are a very popular flower worldwide and are native to Europe. Besides their exquisite beauty, they have a lovely scent.  

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.

South Dakota State Flower: Pasque Flower

South Dakota State Flower Coloring

The Pasque Flower is the State Flower of South Dakota. The plant only grows on Southward facing slopes in the wild, and is common throughout northwestern U.S. up to Northern Alaska. The Pasque Flower, like all tundra plants, grows low to the ground to keep out of the cold. It is also covered in fine silky hairs, which help insulate it. 

It is a Lavender color mostly, but can range from almost White, to a quite dark Lavender, almost Purple. According to English legend, the Pasque Flower springs from the blood of Vikings. I just love that, even if it's not really true. It blooms in the Spring, around Easter time, which is where it got its name.

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.

South Carolina State Flower: Yellow Jessamine

South Carolina State Flower Coloring

Yellow Jessamine (which some people shorten to Jasmine, but that's not really correct) is the State Flower of South Carolina. I have only been to Charleston, South Carolina once, but fell in love with it. The people, the historic mansions, the welcoming spirit, the food, everything but the humidity. Charleston is absolutely beautiful and the people there are some of the friendliest I've ever met. It's just a lovely city. 

From December through March when it blooms, you can smell the soft fragrance of the Yellow Jessamine everywhere, as it is used extensively as a ground cover and on trellises in all the gardens. As its name suggests, color it Yellow, a bright Sunlight Yellow. Too bad you can't smell its fragrance. It's lovely and used in many perfumes. 

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.

Rhode Island State Flower: Violet

Rhode Island State Flower Coloring

Rhode Island is one of 4 states which use the Violet as their State Flower. It's a lovely little flower and like its name suggests it is usually Purple. It can be light Purple, or dark Purple, or any shade in between. Violets also come in Cream, White, Yellow and Blue too. (Go figure) 

Violets have a wonderful scent and are used in many perfumes. They are ancient flowers as the Greeks and Romans both made wine from Violets and rhapsodized about them. They are small and bloom in the Spring for several months.

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.

Pennsylvania State Flower: Mountain Laurel

Pennsylvania State Flower Coloring

The Mountain Laurel is the State Flower of Pennsylvania (as well as Connecticut.) It's a beautiful little flower that grows on a shrub which will grow from 5 to 8 feet tall. It was named when Europeans encountered it and thought it resembled the Bay Laurel tree that grows in Europe. 

Mountain Laurel is easy to grow and doesn't require much sun either, and will even grow in full shade but a few hours of filtered sun light is ideal. The blossoms are either White or any of several shades of light Pink. They bloom from late Spring to mid Summer.

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Oregon Grape Coloring Page

Oregon State Flower Coloring

I have a friend who says that they got it wrong and should have named the Rhododendron as Oregon's State Flower. But they didn't, as the Oregon Grape blossom is the State Flower of Oregon. 

The flowers are a deep Yellow and bloom in the early Summer. After they fall off in late Summer, their plant grows dark Purple berries, that are a type of Grape. It is bitter but with added sugar can be used to make jams and jelly. 

The leaves and root of the plant are used by Herbalists as an anti-inflammatory medication.

Order the State Flowers Coloring Book here by clicking on the Photo.