Official State Flowers of the United States

Viola papilionacea - Wood Violet

Viola papilionacea – Wood Violet

State Flower of Wisconsin – Wisconsin designated the diminutive and delicate wood violet (Viola papilionacea) as the official state flower on Arbor Day in 1909, chosen by Wisconsin’s school children in 1908 to represent Wisconsin’s scenic beauty.

Wood Violet is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant that is native to eastern North America. It is known by a number of common names, including common meadow violet, purple violet, woolly blue violet, and hooded violet. Common habitats are meadows and moist woods The flowers and leaves are edible and medicinal.