Idaho State Flower: Syringa

Adoptedon March 2, 1931.

TThe Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii) was designated the state flower of Idaho by the legislature in 1931. It is a branching shrub with clusters of white, fragrant flowers. The blossoms are similar to the mock orange, have four petals, and the flowers grow at the ends of short, leafy branches.

How'd Philadelphus lewisii get the common name "Syringa," which is the scientific name of lilacs? Who knows. Its other common name is Mock Orange (or Meriweather Lewis's Mock Orange). It doesn't even get that name to itself, because Choisya ternata is also called Mock Orange.

Since 1931, this shrub has been the state flower of Idaho, where Granny Artemis is from. It's actually the first state flower for any state, because long before it was officially acknowledged by Idaho's state Senate, it was already incorporated into the state seal (in 1890), and was used as the symbol of Idaho at the 1893 World's Fair held in Chicago. They appear in great numbers along many a highway, especially throughout the northern parts of the state.

A deciduous shrub that grows fast to 6'. It has fragrant white 2 inch flowers in May-July. It's native to Northwestern U.S. It will survive full sun to part shade. It's garden tolerant, very drought tolerant, but showy when happy. It is similar to the lilac in its brancing and the flowers can be very fragrant.

Leaf: Simple, opposite, deciduous, ovate, 1 to 3 inches long, green above and paler below, margins nearly entire with a few glandular teeth on each side.

Flower: Monoecious, perfect, showy, white, solitary or clustered, about 1 inch in diameter, fragrant, appearing in May to June.

Fruit: Small (1/4 inch), brown, 4-celled capsules.

Twig: Slender, opposite, tan, and widely dichotomous.

Bark: Light brown and shreddy.

Form: A loosely branched shrub up to 12 feet tall.