Wisconsin indigenous flowers
Despite the number of indigenous flowers in the State of
Wisconsin, only one was chosen to be its state flower: the
wood violet. Although it was previously classified as Viola
papilionacea, it was recently classified as Viola sororia,
identifying it as the same specie of common blue violets.
This Wisconsin indigenous flower was nominated as a state
symbol in 1908. A vote by schoolchildren in 1909 clinched
the status for this Wisconsin indigenous flower. Among the
other nominees were the wild rose, the trailing arbutrus and
the white water lily.
If you plan on cultivating the wood violet, you actually
have a pretty easy task ahead of you. This indigenous flower
of Wisconsin is actually considered invasive in some areas.
This just shows you that the violet actually pretty much
grows well on its own. This Wisconsin indigenous flower is
also commonly found growing in waste areas. The blue-purple
flowers of the violet are actually pretty easy to spot,
especially in the spring.
This Wisconsin indigenous flower can grow to a height of 3-8
inches. However, this does not mean that they are easy to
miss. Actually, they are pretty easy to spot because of
their vivid coloring. Some people who cultivate this plant
for ornamental purposes actually use plant boxes or some
other form of elevation in order to make it even more
visible.
One of the most distinctive features of this Wisconsin
indigenous flower is its smell. Some people describe it as
mysterious and alluring. As people love a mystery, they are
intrigued by the distinct almost-aroma of the violet.
Actually, this effect is caused by the chemical composition
of the violet’s essential oil. The scent is actually
composed for the most part of a chemical that numbs the
receptors in a person’s nasal passages. Once you smell the
scent, your nasal receptors are numbed, and you don’t smell
anything anymore. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?
The flowers and young leaves of this Wisconsin indigenous
flower are actually edible. There are actually a lot of
different preparations and recipes which make use of violets
as ingredients. Most people prefer to use the flowers in
salads. Although the flowers themselves taste bland, the
scent of the violets certainly brings something special to a
dish. The color of the petals also adds to the visual impact
and appeal of food.
Did you know that in France violets are actually made into
sweets? The flowers are covered in hot syrup or melted
sugar. The sugar is then allowed to caramelize, turning the
flower into candy. The resulting product is then used as a
décor for pastries or sold individually as candy.
The violet actually contains a large amount of vitamin C in
the flowers. Because of this, infusions and teas made from
this Wisconsin indigenous flower are often taken as
supplements.
Bluemel�s Florist,
Garden Center & Landscaping
4930 W. Loomis Road Greenfield, WI
Floral Orders - (800) 883-4220
Customer Service - (414) 282-4220
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