STATE+FLOWER

STATE FLOWER - BITTER ROOT BitterRoot

In 1893, a Montana Floral Emblem Society was formed, with Mary Long Alderson serving as chairman. In 1, 1894. Montanans were asked to vote on witch flower they wanted as the state flower. When they voted it was clear the winner of 3,621 votes was the bitterroot, The other flowers we could have had as a state flower would have been Primrose, at 787 votes, and the Wild Rose at 668 votes. The BitterRoot was adopted as the state flower on February 27, 1895.

People described the BitterRoot as an; “ exquisite pink blossom which grows close to the ground and its delicate shadings offer the eye one of the loveliest of wildflowers.” In 1805, the bitterroot was “discovered” by Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark expedition. BitterRoot Facts:

It’s said that the BitterRoot can live for more than a year without water. The BitterRoot has also been called the “ resurrection flower”. Its name came from Montana mountain range, a river, and the famous Bitter Root Valley!!!

The Native Americans treasured the BitterRoot, they used its roots for food. The Indians considered it more of a food then just of its looks. Each spring the Spokane, Nez Perce, Flathead, Kalispell and Pend d’Oreille, went to what’s now called Missoula to dig the prized roots. Montana’s Indians used the plant as an important part of their diet.