Sunday, July 19, 2026

Question: When did the orange blossom become Florida’s official state flower?

Answer: The orange blossom became Florida’s official state flower in 1909, when the state legislature designated it by concurrent resolution. Lawmakers passed over the camellia and the gardenia, settling on the fragrant native bloom for its tie to Florida’s already-booming citrus industry—nearly six decades before orange juice itself became the official state beverage in 1967.