Symbol | Official Item

North Carolina designated the Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii) as the official State wildflower in 2003. This spectacular wildflower grows throughout North Carolina, from the forests and hills of Cherokee County to the coastal swamplands of Hyde and Pamlico Counties.

The stem of the Carolina lily can grow up to 4 feet high and can have up to 6 flowers at the summit (1-3 is more common). The flower petals are brilliant red-orange with brown spots and curl back to overlap.

The Seagrove area was designated as the official state birthplace of North Carolina traditional pottery in 2005. This rich and unique heritage is celebrated at the annual Seagrove Pottery Festival. North Carolina also recognizes clay as the official state art medium.

The Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) was designated as the official state reptile of North Carolina in 1979. Listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the eastern box turtle should be monitored and protected to avoid further population decline.

North Carolina designated the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) as the official state carnivorous plant in 2005. Though the Venus flytrap is cultivated throughout the world, it is native to only a small area of the coastal plain in North and South Carolina (for the most part within a 75-mile radius around Wilmington).

The Venus flytrap faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. It's listed as Vulnerable on the Red List from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

North Carolina designated the Plott hound as the official state dog in 1989. The Plott hound is one of only four breeds known to be of American origin (the American Kennel Club recognized the Plott hound as a distinctive breed in 1998). All State Dogs

North Carolina designated the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) as the official state vegetable in 1995. Native Americans were growing sweet potatoes in North Carolina long before European colonization. North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, harvesting over four billion pounds of the vegetable in 1989. 

The blossom of the dogwood tree (Cornus florida) was designated as the official state flower of North Carolina in 1941. The Dogwood is one of the most common trees in North Carolina, found in all parts of the state from the mountains to the coast.

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was designated the official state mammal of North Carolina in 1969. The gray squirrel is common in most areas of North Carolina. 

Adopted in 1798 (when Mississippi was still a U.S. territory), the great seal of Mississippi displays an eagle with spread wings and a shield with stars and stripes centered on its chest. The eagle clasps an olive branch and arrows in its talons (symbols of peace and strength).

The flag of Mississippi features a white magnolia blossom encircled by 20 white stars, one gold star, and the words "In God We Trust". It also features stripes of red, gold, and blue. This flag was chosen by the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag and was approved by state referendum on November 3, 2020. It was then passed by the state legislature on January 6, 2021 and signed into law by the governor on January 11, 2021 making it the official state flag of the U.S. state of Mississippi.