What flower is the state flower of Illinois?

The state flower of Illinois is the violet. Illinois selected the violet as its official state flower in 1907, and state law identifies the flower broadly as Viola species rather than limiting the symbol to one exact cultivated variety.

The common blue violet, Viola sororia, is especially associated with Illinois. It is a low-growing native perennial with heart-shaped leaves and small flowers that are usually blue-violet, though white forms also occur. Violets spread through both ordinary flowers and inconspicuous self-pollinating blossoms that may develop beneath the foliage.

The violet is sometimes confused with other purple flowers, including some species of iris or wild geranium. It is also easy to confuse the state flower with Illinois’s state wildflower: milkweed received that separate designation in 2017. The two symbols serve different official roles.

Illinois is not the only state to choose a violet. Violets also represent New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, although the exact species or wording can differ. The violet’s broad distribution, early blooming season, and familiar appearance helped make it a fitting emblem for the Prairie State.