New Hampshire’s State Flower: the Purple Lilac

"So today, we are placing root cuttings in the earth of the Capitol grounds from the very first lilacs ever to come to America.

We are very proud of this little flower, which is uniquely ours, and as I plant these roots today, I ask you to join with me in the hope that they may thrive and, over time, grow into full beauty."

May 28, 1919

On this day, New Hampshire selected the purple lilac as the State Flower because it symbolized the hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State.

In 1750, the first lilac was planted at the home of the first Gov. Benning Wentworth. When he immigrated to America, an Englishman, Wentworth, had brought the lilac along with other trees and shrubs.

Nearly 200 years later, New Hampshire Gov. Francis P. Murphy commemorated a planting at the capital on April 25, 1939.

He remarked,

"Six roots were taken from the famous lilac trees In the garden of the first colonial governor of New Hampshire.

So today, we are placing root cuttings in the earth of the Capitol grounds from the very first lilacs ever to come to America.

We are very proud of this little flower, which is uniquely ours, and as I plant these roots today, I ask you to join with me in the hope that they may thrive and, over time, grow into full beauty."

And here's one final note about the Wentworth lilacs:

The lilacs planted at Mount Vernon by George Washington are also considered slips taken from the Wentworth estate.