North Carolina State Symbols

A beautiful flower, the Carolina Lily, is the North Carolina State Symbol. You can only find it in July and August and only in the dry woods. This Lily is named after Andre Michaux who traveled the southeastern coast of the United States from his homeland of France. The stem of the Carolina Lily grows to about one foot to up to sometimes four feet. The flower itself is about three inches in diameter. It is a bright yellow orange color with brown spots on each tepals. Six filaments with brown anthers extend out from the middle of the flower. It makes a beautiful house plant. It was adopted in 2003.

The sweet potato became the state's vegetable symbol in 1995. Along with the designation of the Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival as the Southeastern Watermelon Festival Symbol, these two vegetables names are fine representations of southern eating.

In 1987, the state's historical boat was adopted as the Shad Boat. The Shad Boat is a regional work boat. It is named after the shad fish that they are used to fish for. This boat was begun on Roanoke Island. One of these historical boats is housed at the Museum of the Albemarle, where is undergoing extensive restoration. The Museum is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

The dogwood blossom was adopted in 1941, as the state flower. The Honey Bee that gathers their wares from this blossom is the state insect. The Pine tree was designated in 1963.

The Channel Bass or Red Drum is the state's saltwater fish. The Easter Box Turtle is on the state seal and is the state reptile symbol.

The Scuppernong Grape (genus Vitis), is the state's fruit symbol. This grape is larger than a white grape and is green or a bronze color. It was named after Scuppernong, North Carolina where it was grown in the 17th century. They were one of the first grapes in the new Republic to be used to make wine.

For some reason since the fruit symbol was already taken the Blue Berry Symbol was adopted and named the Blue Berry to this designation in 2001.