New Report: These Are the Most Popular Flowers in Every State

See ya, winter! Spring is finally here, and we are grateful. (Seriously, was that the longest winter ever or what?) Of course, nothing says spring like beautiful blooms blossoming in our backyards or livening up even the most boring of streets. And while this may be Mother Nature’s way of getting in our good graces again, a gorgeous flower arrangement is always a welcome addition to our homes, no matter what the season or occasion.

But let’s face it—some flowers are better than others. We all have a favorite, one that makes us smile above all others and want to impulse-buy a bouquet filled with them every time we see one. And believe it or not, your fave may be very similar to your neighbors’. That’s what the researchers at data site ydaft found when they got curious about this topic and decided to uncover the most popular flowers in each state.

So which flower is tops where you live—and do you agree with that pick? Read on to find out.

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How was each state’s most popular flower determined?

‍To suss out each state’s most popular flower, ydaft pulled a list of 85 popular flowers from the site Bloom and Wild. Then, ydaft’s analysts looked at Google Trends data for three months to determine the most-searched-for flowers in each state. And voila—that’s how we got this list of the most popular flowers!

Which flower is the most popular in the country?

The flower that captured the most hearts is a classic—the rose. Immortalized by Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet and dominating Valentine’s Day bouquets every year, this flower (ahem) rose to the No. 1 spot in 10 states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia.

Though ydaft’s analysis didn’t reveal why each state chose its particular favorite, it’s easy to see why people love this flower. After all, there are so many variations and colors, and each rose has a different meaning, making them incredibly versatile. Americans love them so much that President Reagan named them the national flower of the United States in 1986!

Were there any surprises on the list?

For a second-favorite, you’re probably thinking tulips or peonies or maybe the lovely lily. But nope, out of seemingly nowhere, the humble marigold came in at No. 2 on the list, with five states—Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin—ranking it in their top spot. Marigolds make the perfect garden flower, since they’re easy to grow, they thrive in sunlight and they naturally repel pests. They also provide the perfect pop of yellow, bringing a dose of sunshine to any outdoor space.

Beyond that, the bronze went to hydrangeas, which had fans in four states: Alabama, Connecticut, North Carolina and Rhode Island. And then two flowers were tied for fourth place, with three states apiece: alstroemerias (California, Massachusetts and Michigan) and sunflowers (Kentucky, New Mexico and North Dakota).

What are the most popular flowers in each state?

These Are The Most Popular Flowers In Every State Graphic Social READER'S DIGEST, GETTY IMAGES(6)

If your state’s favorite flower hasn’t already been mentioned, or you’re curious about other states, check out the full list below.

Alabama: Hydrangea
Alaska: Iris
Arizona: Daisy
Arkansas: Daffodil
California: Alstroemeria
Colorado: Marigold
Connecticut: Hydrangea
Delaware: Marigold
District of Columbia: Geranium
Florida: Rose
Georgia: Rose
Hawaii: Orchid
Idaho: Snapdragon
Illinois: Rose
Indiana: Lily
Iowa: Zinnia
Kansas: Marigold
Kentucky: Sunflower
Louisiana: Rose
Maine: Ranunculus
Maryland: Rose
Massachusetts: Alstroemeria
Michigan: Alstroemeria
Minnesota: Waxflower
Mississippi: Rose
Missouri: Marigold
Montana: Ranunculus
Nebraska: Daisy
Nevada: Lily
New Hampshire: Poppy
New Jersey: Rose
New Mexico: Sunflower
New York: Rose
North Carolina: Hydrangea
North Dakota: Sunflower
Ohio: Rose
Oklahoma: Tulip
Oregon: Hyacinth
Pennsylvania: Lavender
Rhode Island: Hydrangea
South Carolina: Azalea
South Dakota: Poppy
Tennessee: Peony
Texas: Tulip
Utah: Hyacinth
Vermont: Geranium
Virginia: Rose
Washington: Dahlia
West Virginia: Aster
Wisconsin: Marigold
Wyoming: Snapdragon

What regional flower trends sprung up in the study?

Despite the variations in picks, the states weren’t exactly lone wolves—a definite regional pattern emerged in this analysis. The most notable? The study’s No. 1 flower, roses, earned the top spot only in states in the eastern half of the country. They didn’t win that title in a single state in the West. The same was true for hydrangeas.

Neighboring states also often share a favorite. For example, Kansas shares borders and its most-searched flower, marigolds, with Colorado and Missouri. And Texas and Oklahoma adore tulips.

Though if you ask us, you can’t go wrong with any of the flowers on this list!

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