New Jersey State Flower: Violet

New Jersey recognizes the Violet as its state flower. Each flower displays five petals in shades of purple, blue, or white depending on species. The blooms measure about half an inch to one inch across. Heart-shaped leaves grow on short stems from the plant's base. A distinctive spur extends from the back of each flower.

New Jersey violets bloom from March through May across the state. Early spring triggers the first blooms in southern counties. Northern regions see flowers appear several weeks later. The plants grow 4 to 8 inches tall. Low growing stems spread across the ground. Violets thrive in moist soil with partial shade.

Native violet species grow throughout New Jersey in diverse habitats. Woodlands provide ideal conditions for many varieties. Meadow violets prefer open grassy areas. The plants tolerate various soil types. Some species grow in wetlands while others thrive in dry upland areas. New Jersey hosts over 20 native violet species.

Known as Violet, this flower's scientific designation is Viola sororia for the most common New Jersey species. The plant belongs to the Violaceae family. This family contains about 900 species of violets and pansies found worldwide.

The genus name Viola comes from the Latin word for violet. The species name sororia means sisterly, referring to how closely this violet resembles other species. Common blue violet serves as another name for Viola sororia. People also call it common meadow violet or hooded violet.

New Jersey never specified which violet species qualified as the official state flower. The 1971 designation simply said violet without naming a particular species. This allows all native New Jersey violets to represent the state. Viola sororia appears most frequently across New Jersey landscapes among the many violet species.

New Jersey adopted the Violet as its official state flower in 1971. This came surprisingly late compared to other states. New Jersey operated without an official flower for decades. The state legislature debated various flower choices during the 1900s without reaching consensus, even as the Garden State nickname was already widely used.

School children throughout New Jersey participated in voting for their preferred flower during the 1960s. The violet won this informal vote among students. Garden clubs supported the violet selection. The flower's widespread distribution across New Jersey influenced the choice. Every county in the state had native violet populations, much like species tracked in the list of U.S. state birds.

Some legislators questioned adopting the same flower as several other states. Illinois, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin already used the violet. Supporters argued that New Jersey's violets deserved recognition regardless. The delicate flowers bloomed reliably each spring. The legislature finally passed the designation on June 9, 1971. New Jersey became one of the last states to adopt an official floral emblem, with language that fits New Jersey's state motto.

The American Goldfinch serves as New Jersey's state bird, a small yellow songbird with distinctive black markings. Both symbols represent New Jersey officially. New Jersey adopted the Violet in 1971 and designated the American Goldfinch as state bird in 1935; see the state bird profile.

The Violet commonly represents modesty and faithfulness in traditional flower symbolism. The flower has been linked to humility and spiritual wisdom. Its delicate appearance carries connotations of innocence and affection while representing the natural beauty found throughout New Jersey's diverse landscapes from mountains to shore, including habitats shaped by the Northern Red Oak state tree.