Canada’s Provincial and Territorial Flowers: All 13 Official Floral Emblems

From Alberta’s wild rose to Nunavut’s purple saxifrage, Canada’s official floral emblems celebrate the country’s remarkable botanical diversity. Discover the flowers representing all 10 provinces and three territories, along with their unique characteristics, natural habitats, and fascinating histories.

Flower Lovers Want to Know

What is Canada’s national flower?
Canada does not have an officially designated national flower. Instead, each of its 10 provinces and three territories has its own floral emblem, representing the region’s natural beauty, history, or cultural heritage.

What is the official flower of Ontario?
Ontario’s official flower is the white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), adopted in 1937. Known for its three white petals, this woodland wildflower blooms in spring and is one of Ontario’s most recognizable natural symbols.

What is the official flower of Québec?
Québec’s official flower is the blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), adopted in 1999. This beautiful blue-purple wildflower grows naturally in wetlands and along waterways. It replaced the white garden lily, which had been Québec’s floral emblem since 1963.

Which Canadian province has the lily as its official flower?
Saskatchewan’s official flower is the western red lily (Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum), adopted in 1941. Its striking orange-red petals and dark spots make it one of Canada’s most distinctive provincial floral emblems.

What is the official flower of Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia’s official flower is the mayflower (Epigaea repens), also called trailing arbutus. Adopted in 1901, this low-growing woodland plant produces fragrant pink or white blossoms in early spring.

What are the official flowers of Canada’s three territories?
Yukon’s official flower is fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), the Northwest Territories’ floral emblem is mountain avens (Dryas integrifolia), and Nunavut’s is purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia). These hardy flowering plants are well adapted to Canada’s northern landscapes.

Quick Reference Guide

Official Flowers of Canada’s 10 Provinces

From British Columbia’s flowering dogwood trees to Saskatchewan’s vibrant western red lilies, Canada’s provincial flowers reflect the remarkable variety of plants growing across the country. Let’s explore the 10 official provincial floral emblems and what makes each one special.

1. Alberta – Wild Rose

Scientific name: Rosa acicularis

Alberta’s official flower is the wild rose, adopted in 1930. This hardy native shrub produces delicate pink blossoms with five petals and a golden-yellow center, adding a splash of color to roadsides, open woodlands, and prairie landscapes.

Also known as the prickly rose, Rosa acicularis is well adapted to Alberta’s cold winters. Its thorny stems and fragrant flowers are familiar sights during the warmer months, while its red rose hips provide food for wildlife.

The wild rose is such an important provincial symbol that Alberta is affectionately known as Wild Rose Country.

2. British Columbia – Pacific Dogwood

Scientific name: Cornus nuttallii

British Columbia adopted the Pacific dogwood as its official floral emblem in 1956. Unlike many provincial flowers, the Pacific dogwood is actually a flowering tree, native to the province’s coastal forests and southwestern regions.

In spring, its branches are decorated with showy white bracts surrounding clusters of tiny greenish flowers. Although these bracts resemble large petals, they are modified leaves that help attract pollinators.

The Pacific dogwood can grow into an impressive woodland tree, making it one of Canada’s most distinctive floral emblems. Its elegant spring display reflects the lush forests and natural beauty of British Columbia.

3. Manitoba – Prairie Crocus

Scientific name: Pulsatilla nuttalliana (also known as Anemone patens var. nuttalliana)

Manitoba’s official flower is the prairie crocus, adopted in 1906. One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom on the Canadian Prairies, it often appears while the surrounding grasslands are still recovering from winter.

Its silky, purple-lavender blossoms have golden-yellow centers and are surrounded by fine, hairy stems and leaves that help protect the plant from chilly spring conditions.

Despite its common name, the prairie crocus is not a true crocus. It belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Its early arrival makes it a welcome sign of spring across Manitoba’s open prairies and grasslands.

4. New Brunswick – Purple Violet

Scientific name: Viola cucullata

New Brunswick selected the purple violet as its official floral emblem in 1936. This charming native wildflower produces delicate blue-violet blossoms, often with darker veins and a pale center.

Commonly called the marsh blue violet or hooded blue violet, Viola cucullata grows in moist meadows, woodland edges, and along streams. Its heart-shaped leaves form low clusters, while its flowers brighten the landscape during spring and early summer.

Although small and easily overlooked, the purple violet is a beautiful example of the wildflowers that thrive in New Brunswick’s forests and wetlands.

5. Newfoundland and Labrador – Pitcher Plant

Scientific name: Sarracenia purpurea

Newfoundland and Labrador’s official floral emblem is the purple pitcher plant, adopted in 1954. This unusual native plant stands out because it is carnivorous, obtaining additional nutrients by trapping insects in its modified, pitcher-shaped leaves.

The pitchers collect rainwater and contain downward-pointing hairs that make it difficult for trapped insects to escape. Above them rise striking reddish-purple flowers with downward-curving petals.

Found in bogs and nutrient-poor wetlands, the pitcher plant has adapted to growing conditions that many other flowering plants cannot tolerate. Its fascinating appearance makes it one of Canada’s most unusual provincial floral emblems.

6. Nova Scotia – Mayflower

Scientific name: Epigaea repens

Nova Scotia’s official flower is the mayflower, also known as trailing arbutus, adopted in 1901. This low-growing evergreen plant produces clusters of delicate pink or white blossoms with a sweet fragrance.

The mayflower grows naturally in woodland habitats, often spreading across the forest floor beneath pine trees and other vegetation. Its small, leathery leaves remain green throughout the year, while its fragrant flowers appear in early spring.

Long associated with the arrival of warmer weather, the mayflower is a beloved symbol of Nova Scotia’s woodland landscapes and seasonal renewal.

7. Ontario – White Trillium

Scientific name: Trillium grandiflorum

Ontario adopted the white trillium as its official floral emblem in 1937. This elegant woodland wildflower is easily recognized by its three broad white petals, three green sepals, and a whorl of three leaves.

White trilliums bloom in spring, often carpeting deciduous forest floors before the overhead trees develop their full summer foliage. As the flowers age, their petals sometimes develop soft pink tones.

The trillium became associated with Ontario partly through efforts to recognize native wildflowers and commemorate soldiers who served during the First World War. Today, its distinctive three-petaled image is widely used as a symbol of the province.

8. Prince Edward Island – Lady’s Slipper

Scientific name: Cypripedium acaule

Prince Edward Island chose the pink lady’s slipper as its official flower in 1947. This beautiful native orchid is named for its unusual pouch-shaped blossom, which resembles a delicate slipper.

The flower is typically pink or rose-purple, with a prominent inflated pouch surrounded by slender petals and sepals. It grows in acidic woodland soils, often among mosses and beneath coniferous trees.

Like many terrestrial orchids, the pink lady’s slipper depends on specialized relationships with soil fungi during its life cycle. These delicate plants are difficult to transplant successfully, making them best appreciated in their natural woodland habitats.

9. Québec – Blue Flag Iris

Scientific name: Iris versicolor

Québec adopted the blue flag iris as its official floral emblem in 1999, replacing the white garden lily that had previously represented the province.

This striking native wildflower produces blue-violet blossoms with beautifully patterned petals, often marked with yellow and white near their centers. Its long, sword-shaped leaves grow in upright clusters, giving the plant an elegant appearance.

The blue flag iris thrives in wetlands, marshes, and along the edges of ponds and streams. Its natural presence in Québec’s landscapes makes it a fitting floral emblem for a province known for its lakes, rivers, and rich botanical diversity.

10. Saskatchewan – Western Red Lily

Scientific name: Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum

Saskatchewan adopted the western red lily as its official floral emblem in 1941. This striking native wildflower is known for its brilliant orange-red blossoms, often decorated with dark spots near the center.

The flowers are typically upright and cup-shaped, with six colorful tepals that give them a bold, unmistakable appearance. Western red lilies grow naturally in prairie meadows, open woodlands, and grassy areas.

Their vivid summer blooms are among the most recognizable wildflowers of Saskatchewan. The western red lily is also a reminder of the importance of protecting native prairie habitats, where many beautiful wildflowers depend on undisturbed growing conditions.

Official Flowers of Canada’s 3 Territories

Canada’s three northern territories are home to remarkable wildflowers that survive long winters, rocky landscapes, and short growing seasons. Their official floral emblems showcase the beauty and resilience of plants adapted to life in the North.

11. Northwest Territories – Mountain Avens

Scientific name: Dryas integrifolia

The Northwest Territories adopted mountain avens as its official floral emblem in 1957. This hardy Arctic wildflower produces delicate, creamy-white blossoms with bright yellow centers, standing out against the rocky tundra.

Mountain avens is a low-growing, mat-forming plant with small, leathery leaves that help it withstand cold temperatures and strong northern winds. Its flowers appear during the short Arctic summer, attracting insects when growing conditions are favorable.

A member of the rose family, mountain avens is well suited to the Northwest Territories’ rugged landscapes. Its ability to flourish in challenging environments makes it a fitting symbol of northern Canada’s natural beauty.

12. Nunavut – Purple Saxifrage

Scientific name: Saxifraga oppositifolia

Nunavut officially adopted purple saxifrage as its territorial flower on May 1, 2000, shortly after becoming Canada’s newest territory in 1999.

This remarkable Arctic wildflower produces small, vibrant purple blossoms that often appear while patches of snow still cover the tundra. Growing in dense, cushion-like mats, purple saxifrage thrives in rocky crevices and gravelly soils where few other flowering plants can survive.

One of the earliest flowers to bloom in the Arctic spring, purple saxifrage brings a welcome splash of color to Nunavut’s northern landscapes. Its extraordinary cold tolerance makes it one of Canada’s most fascinating territorial floral emblems.

13. Yukon – Fireweed

Scientific name: Chamerion angustifolium (syn. Epilobium angustifolium)

Yukon adopted fireweed as its official floral emblem in 1957. This tall, colorful wildflower is known for its striking spikes of pink to magenta blossoms, which brighten roadsides, riverbanks, and open landscapes during the summer.

Fireweed gets its name from its remarkable ability to colonize areas disturbed by wildfires. As one of the first flowering plants to establish itself after a fire, it helps bring color and vegetation back to recovering landscapes.

Blooming from mid-July into September, fireweed is a familiar sight throughout Yukon. Its brilliant flowers and adaptability make it a beautiful symbol of the territory’s wild northern scenery.

How Were Canada’s Provincial and Territorial Flowers Chosen?

Canada’s official provincial and territorial flowers have fascinating histories. Some were selected through public interest and community campaigns, while others were formally adopted by provincial or territorial governments. Each floral emblem reflects a connection to the region’s natural landscapes, history, or identity.

The tradition of adopting official floral emblems developed gradually across Canada. Nova Scotia selected the mayflower in 1901, Manitoba adopted the prairie crocus in 1906, and Alberta chose the wild rose in 1930. Other provinces and territories followed, creating the collection of 13 floral emblems recognized today.

Not every floral emblem has remained unchanged. Québec originally adopted the white garden lily in 1963 but replaced it with the native blue flag iris in 1999. The change introduced a wildflower naturally found in Québec’s wetlands and waterways.

Ontario’s white trillium has its own interesting history. Interest in adopting the flower grew during the First World War, when native wildflowers were considered for planting on Canadian soldiers’ graves overseas. The white trillium eventually became Ontario’s official floral emblem in 1937.

Today, these flowers are much more than attractive provincial and territorial symbols. They also introduce Canadians and visitors to the remarkable variety of flowering plants found across the country’s forests, prairies, wetlands, and Arctic landscapes.

Final Sprouts of Wisdom

From Alberta’s delicate wild rose to Nunavut’s hardy purple saxifrage, Canada’s provincial and territorial flowers are as diverse as the landscapes they represent. Each of these 13 floral emblems has its own story, celebrating the natural beauty and unique character of its region.

Whether it’s Ontario’s familiar white trillium, Saskatchewan’s vibrant western red lily, or Newfoundland and Labrador’s fascinating pitcher plant, these flowers offer a colorful glimpse into Canada’s botanical heritage.

The next time you’re exploring Canada’s forests, prairies, wetlands, or northern landscapes, keep an eye out for these special blooms. You might just discover a little piece of Canadian history growing right before your eyes!

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