The camellia is the official state flower of Alabama — a lush, rose-like bloom that flowers in the cool of winter.

• Official flower: Camellia
• Scientific name: Camellia japonica
• Year adopted: 1959
• Native range: East Asia in cultivation

About the camellia

Alabama first named goldenrod its state flower in 1927, then replaced it with the camellia in 1959. The elegant, many-petaled blooms come in white, pink, and red and appear from late fall through winter, when little else is flowering. Alabama also honors the oak-leaf hydrangea as its state wildflower.

Where it grows

Though originally from East Asia, camellias are widely grown across Alabama’s gardens, flowering through the fall and winter months.

Alabama state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Alabama?

Alabama’s state flower is the camellia (Camellia japonica), which it adopted in 1959.

When did Alabama adopt its state flower?

Alabama designated the camellia as its official state flower in 1959.

Did Alabama change its state flower?

Yes. Alabama’s original state flower was goldenrod, adopted in 1927, but it was replaced by the camellia in 1959.

Explore more

See the state flowers of all 50 states, discover national flowers, or find your birth flower.