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Connecticut wanted a state flower of its own. The rose simply wasn't cutting it. By the early 1900s, the rose was already being used as a floral symbol in other places, and a group of Connecticut women thought their state deserved something more distinctly connected to its own landscape. So, in 1907, about 3,000 women joined together to champion a new flower. They chose the mountain laurel. And they weren't going to let Connecticut's legislators overlook it.
This short video shares how thousands of women helped make the mountain laurel Connecticut's state flower and the slightly ironic thing that happened a few decades later.
Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub native to eastern North America. In late spring and early summer, clusters of intricate pink and white flowers appear among its glossy green leaves.
A few things that make it special:
Native to eastern North America
Blooms in late spring and early summer
Keeps its green leaves throughout the year
Produces distinctive cup-shaped flowers in clusters
Often grows naturally in rocky woods and along forest edges
Look closely at an individual bloom and you'll see just how unusual it is. The flowers almost look as though someone carefully drew a geometric pattern inside each one.
And while they're beautiful, mountain laurels are also toxic if eaten, so this is definitely a flower to admire rather than taste.
Why It Became the State Flower
In the early 1900s, Connecticut's floral identity was associated with the rose.
But not everyone was happy about it.
The rose didn't feel particularly Connecticut. It grew almost everywhere, and other places were already claiming it as their own.
A group of women decided Connecticut needed something native.
About 3,000 women joined the campaign for the mountain laurel in 1907.
And they came up with a wonderfully simple way to convince lawmakers.
They sent members of the Connecticut General Assembly sprigs of mountain laurel so they could see the flower's beauty for themselves.
It worked.
The mountain laurel was officially designated Connecticut's state flower in 1907.
Connecticut finally had the distinctive flower its supporters wanted.
Except there was a little irony coming.
Part of the argument for choosing mountain laurel was that Connecticut wanted a flower that felt uniquely connected to the state.
Then Pennsylvania came along.
In 1933, Pennsylvania also adopted the mountain laurel as its state flower.
Suddenly Connecticut was sharing again.
But that doesn't make the mountain laurel any less connected to Connecticut. It grows naturally throughout the state's woodlands and has been part of its landscape since long before either state officially claimed it.
And Connecticut did get there first.
By 26 years.
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