The Indianapolis Garden Club joins the GCA and the Indiana Native Plant Society to Propose Replacing a Non-native Plant with a Native Species as the State Flower

Indiana’s State Flower: A Conversation About Change to a Native Plant

April 08, 2026

By: Shawn Spain

The Indiana Native Plant Society has introduced a proposal to change the state flower to butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).  Butterfly weed, a bright orange milkweed native to Indiana, serves as an important food source and habitat for monarch butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators. The Indianapolis Garden Club has joined in support of this discussion as part of their broader commitment to native plant advocacy.

Indiana is one of only 13 states with a non-native state flower. In contrast, 37 states have chosen native species, celebrating both their cultural and ecological significance. A shift to butterfly weed would align Indiana with this national trend of honoring native flora.

Indiana’s current state flower, the peony, was adopted in 1957. While admired for its beauty and its association with Memorial Day traditions, the peony is not native to Indiana and provides limited ecological benefit to local wildlife. Indiana also joined 43 other states supporting the Native Plant Month Initiative, which GCA sponsors.

The GCA emphasizes the role of native plants in sustaining ecosystems, stabilizing soils, filtering water, and supporting biodiversity. Encouraging all states to adopt native plants as their floral emblems not only reflects natural heritage but also strengthens public awareness of the vital role natives play in protecting pollinators, wildlife, and healthy landscapes. Looking ahead, native species can help build resilience to climate change while fostering a deeper culture of conservation education for generations to come.