Nickname The "Sunshine State" is the nickname most commonly attached to Florida. It was adopted as the state nickname by the 1970 legislature.

Florida's Flag




Many flags have flown over Florida. These included the flags of five nations: Spain, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Confederate States of America. Many other unofficial flags have flown over Florida in its history. The current flag was approved by the state legislature in 1899 and by the citizens of Florida in 1900.

State Seal The state seal of Florida, revised in 1985, corrected several errors that appeared in the previous seal. The seal shows the sun, a steamboat sailing, a Sabal Palm tree, and a Seminole woman scattering flowers. The seal is encircled by the words: "Great Seal of the State of Florida: In God We Trust." The first seal was designed in 1865.

State Tree: Sabal Palm In 1953, the state legislature named the Sabal Palm as the state tree. The Sabal Palm is also shown on the state seal. This tree grows well in almost any soil and is the most widely distributed tree throughout Florida. The Sabal Palm is also known as the cabbage palm.

State Animal: Florida Panther




The panther is the official state animal of Florida. In 1982 Florida students chose the Florida panther over the key deer, the manatee, and the alligator as the state animal. Long ago, panthers were found throughout the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas to the tip of Florida. However, they were hunted and killed because settlers feared them. Now adult panthers remain in national and state parks and on private lands in southwest Florida. Panthers are among the rarest and most endangered animals in the world.

State Flower: Orange Blossom


Florida's state flower is the orange blossom. These fragrant white flowers grow on the orange tree. At one time, bouquets of orange blossoms were transported to all parts of the United States for brides to carry at their weddings. The orange blossom became the official state flower in 1909.

State Wildflower: Coreopsis Florida's state wildflower is the coreopsis. The coreopsis blooms in a range of colors from bright lemon yellow to gold to pink. The wildflower is used widely in the state's roadside plantings and highway beautification programs. The state legislature designated the coreopsis as the state wildflower in 1991.

State Day: April 2 In 1953 the state legislature designated April 2 as State Day. Ponce de León first sighted Florida on or about that date in 1513. The idea was suggested by Mary Harrell, a Jacksonville social studies teacher at John Gorrie Junior High School.