What Is The State Flower Of Michigan?

The state flower of Michigan is the apple blossom. However, the dwarf lake iris is the state’s official wildflower. An apple blossom is a flower that sprouts from apple trees. Michigan is popularly known for its apples and also its apple blossoms. The apple trees are common along the shores of Lake Michigan due to the weather influence from the lake. The flowers blossom on apple trees all over Michigan, especially between April and June. These flowers are fragrant and when they blossom, they fill Michigan with their fragrance. The sweet scent attracts bees which buzz around the flowers. The apple blossom was officially made the state flower of Michigan in 1897.

Description Of The Apple Blossom

Apple blossoms sprout from apple trees which are typically 20-40 feet tall. The branches of the apple tree are usually crooked and rigid. The bark of the tree is characterized by a rough texture and blackish color. The apple blossom is an angiosperm flower. The multiple stamens of the flower are surrounded by the petals. The stigmas are usually sticky to enhance the pollination process. After fertilization, the ovary of the flower, which is situated at the base of the petals, grows into the apple fruit. The flowers have white and cherry pink petals. In most cases when the flowers blossom the petals turn pink and later fade into white with minor traces of pink. The delicate petals may, however, come in other colors such as red and purple.

Why Was the Apple Blossom Selected As The State Flower Of Michigan?

Michigan has been ranked the third-highest producer of apples in the US after Washington and New York. For this reason, the state is often associated with apple trees and fruits. There are wide varieties of apple species planted in Michigan. However, the flower of the Pyrus coronaria, commonly known as the crabapple, is Michigan’s state flower. The flower of this species was selected as the state flower because it is largely considered ornamental. The crabapple is native to Michigan. Other than growing in many places in Michigan, the apple blossom is a symbol of fertility, love, and hope.

Dwarf Lake Iris

Dwarf lake iris was designated the wildflower of Michigan in 1998. This unique flower is listed as endangered and found mainly along the northern shores of Lake Michigan. It is a deep blue flower measuring about one inch in width and 1.5 inches in height. Dwarf lake iris was one of the six flowers proposed by the Wildflower Association of Michigan as the wildflower of the state. Although it emerged second after the white trillium in a poll conducted in 1996, dwarf lake iris was declared the state wildflower by the Michigan House of Representative.