Native Species as State Flower

Support for a Native State Flower

Thomas Hohman and the Indiana Native Plant Society have been petitioning for either of these Indiana native flowers to be a candidate for a new native state flower; Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) or Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). The Society has been looking for support from groups like IWLA in Indiana since July, 2025. It seems that Butterfly Milkweed is the most popular choice at this time. The Monarch Butterfly relies on Milkweed alone to raise it's young. Milkweed is not a surprising choice given the recent concern to restore native pollinator habitat across the country. The peony has been Indiana's state flower since 1957. But peony is not a native plant to Indiana. The following piece is the society's case for changing the Indiana state flower to a native species.

CASE FOR CHANGING THE INDIANA STATE FLOWER FROM THE PEONY
TO A PLANT NATIVE TO INDIANA

According to Webster’s Dictionary, an emblem is “a symbolic object or image that represents something else, such as a nation, an idea, or a group.” All 50 states have adopted multiple emblems to represent their state, the most obvious of which would be their state flag and state seal. Most also adopt other emblems, such as a state tree, state bird, and other objects which they feel represent their state.

Indiana has 15 official state emblems, included in Indiana Code 1-2. All of these have some obvious connection to Indiana. The one exception is the officially designated state flower of Indiana, the peony. While the peony is a beautiful perennial flower, it does not occur naturally in Indiana, and has no true natural or historical significance to the state. There is no logical reason that it should be officially recognized as the state flower of Indiana.

Of the 50 US states, 38 have plants native to their state as their official state flower. Unfortunately, Indiana is not one of those 38 states. In the 2001 legislative session a bill was introduced to designate the fire pink as the official state flower, replacing the peony. Unfortunately, the bill did not receive a hearing. The Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS), and partner conservation groups, believe that it is long overdue for the state to adopt a flower native to Indiana as the state flower.

To ensure that the best native plant is selected for this honor, early in 2025 INPS established a committee to look at possible candidates. An initial list of eight potential candidates was developed. INPS then gathered feedback from partner organizations on the suitability of the plants in that initial short list. After reviewing that feedback, they reduced the list to five plants. That short list has been sent to INPS members statewide, who are being provided an opportunity to vote on their favorite. The native plant with the most widespread support among INPS members will then be proposed as the official state flower of Indiana.

It is hoped that this show of widespread support, along with the anticipated support of other conservation, gardening and civic organizations, will be enough to encourage the legislature to finally make this change.

If your organization agrees and would like to see an Indiana Native as our new State Flower, you might consider writing a letter of support. Letters of support may be emailed to Thomas Hohman (Indiana Native Plant Society. CLICK HERE for more information by INPS.