State Symbols

By Joe Jayjack on July 19, 2024 in Blog


All illustrations done by Jordan McDowell, Graphic Design Intern

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” At least that’s what somebody named Shakespeare said. But it’s hard to imagine that any flower would inspire you to wander the prairie, or think about our natural heritage — or smell quite as sweet — as does the wild rose. So, maybe there is something in a name. The light pink bloom was designated Iowa’s official state flower in 1897. It is one of relatively few Iowa designations compared to other states. We have a state bird (the American Goldfinch), a state rock (the geode), and a state tree (the oak). And that’s it. There was an ill-fated effort in the legislature this year to name the Iowa darter our state fish. Despite the fact that the small, colorful, threatened darter is the only fish with “Iowa” in its name, the bill never made it out of committee. It got us thinking, “What else should represent Iowa?” So, we polled some of our INHF board and staff to help fill in the blanks by asking them...

What should be Iowa’s official state symbols be?

Table showing INHF staff and board

regal fritillary illustration by Jordan McDowellRegal fritillary: This beautiful butterfly can infrequently be found statewide in tallgrass prairies. Iowa is one of only four states without a state butterfly, and no other state claims the regal fritillary as its own.

Flying squirrel illustration by Jordan McDowellFlying squirrel: The southern flying squirrel is a species of state special concern found mostly in upland eastern deciduous forests. Despite their name, these mammals are more a glider than a flyer, using the folds of skin between their legs to act as a parachute.

Smooth green snake illustration by Jordan McDowellSmooth green snake: This is a species of state special concern and its appearance is often an indicator of high quality native prairies and marshes.

Table showing INHF staff and board picks for Iowa's state symbols

Iowa Darter illustration by Jordan McDowellIowa darter: A bill introduced by Rep. John Wills and supported by the Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society would have named the Iowa darter the official fish of Iowa because it is representative of native fish diversity and an indicator of good water quality.

Wild strawberry illustration by Jordan McDowellWild strawberry: These edible beauties are mostly found in woodlands in June and July, but they are highly adaptable to different environments.

Morel mushroom illustration by Jordan McDowellMorel
mushrooms:

Morels appear
for a short couple months in the spring in Iowa, and they can often be found near dead or decaying trees.

All illustrations done by Jordan McDowell, Graphic Design Intern