West Virginia

The Story Behind the Big Rhododendron

If you’ve ever spent time in the mountains of West Virginia in late spring, you might come across it.

Thick clusters of pale pink flowers tucked into the hillsides. Blooming along trails. Growing wild in places that feel a little untouched. It’s not a delicate flower in a manicured garden. It’s a mountain flower. And that’s exactly why it fits West Virginia so well.

This short video shares how the Big Rhododendron became the state flower of West Virginia and why it reflects the rugged beauty of the state.

Big Rhododendron

Rhododendron maximum

The Big Rhododendron grows throughout the Appalachian Mountains and is especially common in the forests of West Virginia.

A few things that make it special:

Native to the Appalachian region
Blooms in late spring to early summer
Found in mountain forests and along shaded trails
Known for its large clusters of pale pink flowers

It often grows in dense thickets, creating tunnels of green leaves and soft blooms that feel almost hidden within the forest.

When it blooms, it transforms the mountains.

Why It Became the State Flower

At the end of the 1800s, many states were beginning to choose official flowers to represent them.

West Virginia didn’t have one yet.

So in 1903, the governor asked schoolchildren across the state to help decide.

They were given three options:

The honeysuckle
The wild rose
The rhododendron

The rhododendron won by more than 15,000 votes.

It wasn’t just because it was beautiful — it was because it belonged to the mountains. It grew naturally across the state and reflected the landscape people saw every day.

With the vote from the school children and the governor's approval, the Big Rhododendron became the official state flower of West Virginia.

Meadow & Mountain Designs

Women's Designs

Unisex Designs

Youth Designs

Canvas Totes

Shop here!