STATE FLOWER
Nebraska's State Flower: Goldenrod
Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) has represented Nebraska since 1895, chosen for a simple, practical reason: it's genuinely native and grows across the entire state.
Chosen for Its Reach, Not Just Its Looks
Nebraska's lawmakers didn't pick goldenrod purely for beauty — they wanted a flower that could truly represent the whole state, and goldenrod was one of the few native plants found reliably from border to border. Its tall yellow spikes bloom in late summer and early fall, a familiar sight along roadsides and prairie edges statewide.
QUICK FACT
Kentucky also chose goldenrod as its state flower, adopting it three decades after Nebraska did.
