When you think of Alaska, you may imagine long winter nights and summer days, beautiful national parks and abundant wildlife, or resilient people and plants. That’s why the Last Frontier has an amazingly hardy bloom as its state flower.
The Alaska state flower is the alpine forget-me-not. Although the forget-me-not’s small blue flowers make it one of the prettiest plants on the full list of state flowers, its resilient nature makes it a perfect fit for this rugged state. Keep reading to learn more about the state flower of Alaska.
What Is the Alaska State Flower?
The alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) is a herbaceous perennial with a low-growing form and adorable blue flowers. The flowers are native to parts of the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, western Canada, and Alaska. They’re true alpine plants and can only be found growing between 7,000 and 10,000 feet.
Since the plants grow in harsh conditions, they remain dormant for most of the year. However, they burst into bloom in June and July. The plants produce clusters of small, true blue flowers—a rare occurrence in the plant world. Each flower has five distinct petals that merge to form a tube-shaped bloom. Although the majority of the blooms are blue, bright yellow centers help them stand out in the landscape.
History of the Alaska State Flower
The history of the state flower of Alaska is almost as interesting as the state itself. A group of settlers known as the Grand Igloo first designated the flower as a district symbol in 1907. They thought the hardy plant represented the perseverance and strength it took to survive in the cold and rugged land.
In 1912, Alaska became an official United States territory. The settlers remained loyal to their alpine flower and declared it the territory’s official flower in 1917. When Alaska became a state in 1959, legislators declared the alpine forget-me-not as the state flower. It has remained The Last Frontier’s flower up to today.
Growing Forget-Me-Nots at Home
Unless you live in a high-elevation environment, the alpine forget-me-not isn’t the best choice for a garden flower. However, other types of forget-me-nots grow well in most environments and make beautiful garden flowers. The wood forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is the most popular option. This short-lived perennial is native to Europe and thrives in temperate gardens located throughout much of the United States.
Although you can grow forget-me-nots from seeds or seedlings, most gardeners start with seeds since they easily germinate in the garden. Choose a location with partial shade and moist soil. Wait until a few weeks before your last spring frost, then press the seeds into the soil. When the seedlings emerge, thin them so they’re six to eight inches apart.
Keep the soil slightly moist as the plants grow. You should see flowers begin to appear a couple of months after planting. The small blue flowers readily go to seed and spread throughout the garden. Therefore, they can stay in your garden for years to come. It’s important to keep this in mind before and during growing these flowers.
Popular Forget-Me-Not Varieties
There are over 100 species of forget-me-nots and hundreds of more unique varieties within these species. Although all of the plants are situated in the Myosotis genus and produce small petals with five petals, they differ in preferred habitat and exact characteristics. Many of the plants have blue flowers, but you can also find varieties with white or pink blooms.
Check out these popular varieties if you’re interested in growing forget-me-nots at home.
- Victoria Blue: This short variety grows to eight inches tall and thrives in partially shaded areas. It brightens the garden with clusters of small blue flowers.
- Bellamy Pink: These short plants remain less than eight inches tall and produce light pink flowers.
- Blue Bird: Since this variety grows up to a foot tall, it works well if you’re looking for a larger plant. It produces the bright blue flowers forget-me-nots are known for.
Order Flowers and Plants
Flowers are gorgeous, but they provide more than simple beauty. They help connect us to the places we love, let others know we’re thinking about them, and remind us to appreciate the simple things. So the next time you want to wish a loved one a happy birthday or congratulate them on a new home, choose our easy flower delivery service.
If you want to learn more about state flowers, we’re here for you. You can learn about the Michigan state flower and then take time to explore other important blooms.
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