Colorado State Flower – Rocky Mountain columbine

Official State Flower of Colorado

The white and lavender Rocky Mountain Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea, was designated as the official state flower of Colorado on April 4, 1899, by an act of the General Assembly. Rocky Mountain Columbine was adopted as the official state flower after winning the vote of Colorado’s schoolchildren. the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to protect this rare flower species from unnecessary destruction or waste in 1925. 

The Columbines flowers have 70 species in the world and about 1/3 are native to North America. Official Colorado flower specifies the white and lavender Rocky Mountain Columbine flowers which have blue-violet petals and spurs, a yellow center, and a white cup. Blue is a symbol of the sky, white represents snow, and yellow symbolizes Colorado’s gold mining history. 

The Rocky Mountain columbine Flowers
The Rocky Mountain columbine Flowers

In 1820, Edwin James a famous mountain climber discovered the Rocky Mountain columbine on Pike’s Peak. He found a lovely flower with a rich aroma to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to it’s nectar.

Also Read: USA States Flowers

Colorado Flower – The Rocky Mountain columbine Facts

  • The Rocky Mountain columbine, Colorado Official State Flower is Elected by schoolchildren.
  • The Botanical Name of Rocky Mountain columbine is Aquilegia caerulea.
  • Colorado Official State Flower was Adopted on April 4, 1899
  • The Rocky Mountain columbine grows between the May to June.
  • The lovely flower Rocky Mountain columbine was discovered in 1820 on Pike’s Peak by mountain climber Edwin James.
  • In the botanical name of the white and lavender Rocky Mountain columbine, Aquilegia caerulea. The Latin word aquila means “Eagle” and refers to the claw-like spurs at the base of the flower.

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