The hawthorn, or “red haw,” is the official state flower of Missouri — a small tree that clouds with white blossoms each spring.

• Official flower: Hawthorn
• Scientific name: Crataegus
• Year adopted: 1923
• Native range: the eastern and central U.S.

About the hawthorn

Missouri adopted the hawthorn in 1923. The state is a stronghold for the genus, home to dozens of hawthorn species, which bear clusters of white flowers in spring and small red fruits in autumn on thorny branches.

Where it grows

Hawthorns grow throughout Missouri, especially in the Ozarks, flowering in spring in woodlands, fields, and along fence rows.

Missouri state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Missouri?

Missouri’s state flower is the hawthorn (Crataegus), which it adopted in 1923.

When did Missouri adopt its state flower?

Missouri designated the hawthorn as its official state flower in 1923.

How many hawthorn species grow in Missouri?

Missouri is a hawthorn hotspot, home to dozens of species of the genus Crataegus, which is one reason the flower was chosen to represent the state.

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