The tallow lily is Utah’s state flower, chosen for its historical significance and natural beauty. It saved families from starvation during a cricket plague. The flower has lilac-tinged white petals with a deep purple band and is also found in other western states. Utah’s other state emblems include the California Gull, Blue Spruce, Rocky Mountain Elk, bee, and beehive.
The state flower of Utah is the tallow lily. State schoolchildren voted for the flower as their choice for the state floral emblem, and it was adopted as the state flower of Utah on March 18, 1911. Native to the western United States, the tallow lily is prominent in the Great Basin and the open prairies of the state. The tallow lily was selected primarily as the state flower of Utah due to its historical significance and natural beauty.
In the mid-19th century, a plaque of crickets devoured the area’s crops, leaving families to ration their food supplies. At that time, Utah pioneers learned about the edible properties of the tallow lily. Taking a cue from Native Americans who had been consuming tallow lily roots for years, the bulbous roots were dug up and consumed, saving many families from near starvation. This historic fact was not forgotten when Utah’s state flower was selected.
The tallow lily blooms in early to mid summer in the western United States. Throughout Utah, it can be spotted in the open meadows and sage rangelands of the Great Basin. Utah’s state flower features three lilac-tinged white petals. A deep purple band outlines the yellow base of the flower, and usually one to four flowers grow on a single stem with linear leaves. Plants generally reach about 6-18 inches (about 15-45 centimeters) tall.
Utah’s state flower is also native to a number of other western states, although Utah is the only one that claims it as a floral emblem. Sego lilies are also prominent in the states of Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. The flower is also commonly referred to as the mariposa lily.
Other Utah state emblems include California Gull as the state bird, Blue Spruce as the state tree, and Rocky Mountain Elk as the state animal. “The Beehive State,” as Utah is affectionately called, is known for its honey production. The bee is the state insect and the beehive was chosen as the state emblem of Utah. Utah claims the cluster of beehives as an astronomical symbol of the state. The state song is “Utah, this is the Place” and “Utah we Love Thee” was selected as the anthem to represent the state.
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