Ohio’s State Flower? – WorldAtlas

Print anything with Printful



Ohio’s state flower is the scarlet carnation, chosen in 1904 as a tribute to President William McKinley, who considered it a symbol of good luck. The flower is popular in Ohio and is known for its ability to withstand harsh winter climates.

Ohio’s state flower is the scarlet carnation. The scarlet carnation belongs to the plant species known as dianthus caryophyllus. Ohio’s official state flower was designated in the early 1900s, primarily as a tribute to one of the state’s most famous sons, President William McKinley.
During the 19th century, Ohio did not have an official state flower. The authorities chose the fruiting horse chestnut tree to represent the state. Ohio is referred to as the buckeye state due to its abundance of buckeye trees.

The state legislature chose the scarlet carnation as the state flower of Ohio on February 3, 1904. The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, made it known that his favorite flower was the scarlet carnation. It has been said that the scarlet carnation was chosen as the official state flower of Ohio in tribute to this famous Ohioan.

William McKinley considered the scarlet carnation to be his personal symbol of good luck. During his campaign for president, McKinley kept a scarlet carnation pinned to his lapel. The red carnation was actually given to him by his campaign opponent.

Some people refer to Ohio’s state flower as the red carnation, as it is a deep red color. Ohio’s official scarlet state flower, however, was reproduced from seedlings in 1866 by local politician Levi Lamborn. It was Lamborn who gave McKinley a red carnation before one of their political debates.

The state flower of Ohio is also popular in flower arrangements and as a bouquet for formal occasions. Carnation is generally able to withstand harsh winter climates, making it an ideal flower to thrive in Ohio. These perennials also require several hours of daily sunlight when growing. It is quite common to see carnations of various colors in gardens and flower shops throughout the state of Ohio. The red carnation is said to be a symbol of everlasting love, making it a popular flower for bridal bouquets, as well as Mother’s Day offerings.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content