Virginia adopted the American dogwood as its state flower and its state tree. The dogwood is one of the commonest trees of the Middle Atlantic and southern states. It ranges from New England west to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida. It is also native to the Old World.
The Garden Club of Virginia and the Garden Club of Norfolk supported its bid for office as the state flower. One legislator proposed the Virginia creeper. It reportedly lost by just one vote. The dogwood was adopted as Virignia’s state flower in March 1918. The dogwood was next adopted as Virginia’s official state tree on February 24, 1956.
