The idea of allocating flowers to Sweden’s provinces began in 1908. It was the brainchild of August Wickström and Paul Petter Waldenström. However, the pair could not always agree on which flower should represent each province, so some provinces still have two official provincial flowers.
Let’s take a look at the provincial flowers for each of Sweden’s twenty-five provinces.
The Provincial Flower of Bohuslän
As of 2021, Sweden has a national flower. Swedes nationwide voted to make the beautiful bluebell bellflower its national floral symbol.
But even before the national flower was introduced, each province in Sweden had a provincial flower, just like each state in the U.S. is represented by a different flower.
For instance, the sego lily is the official state flower of Utah. So, if you’re using flower delivery Salt Lake City to send a gift to a local friend, a bouquet of lilies could be the ideal choice.
On the other hand, if you’re in the Swedish province of Bohuslän, you may wish to give honeysuckle as a gift, because the yellowy flower is the provincial flower.
Locally, honeysuckle is known as ‘vildkaprifol’.
The Provincial Flower of Gotland
The greenish-yellow flower of English Ivy’s nectar is the official provincial flower of Gotland.
Known locally as murgröna, the berries and leaves of English Ivy were often used in olden times in Sweden for medicinal use.
The Provincial Flower of Lappland
The alpine plant known as fjällsippa belongs to the Rosaceae family, but unlike other flowers in the family, the fjällsippa has eight or more petals instead of five. The creamy white petals of the fjällsippa surround a vibrant yellow, making them incredibly charming.
In Lappland and other provinces of Sweden, you can find the flower growing naturally in dry areas, particularly on rocky terrain.
The Provincial Flower of Uppland
Despite its name of snake’s head, the kungsängslilja, as it’s known in Swedish, is a beautiful flower that has a checkered pattern in shades of purple and sometimes white.
The flower blossoms in late spring and can be widely found in King’s meadow in Uppsala.
The Provincial Flower of Västmanland
Mistletoe isn’t just for kissing under at Christmastime.
The provincial flower of Västmanland, which is known as ‘mistel’ in Swedish, produces lovely white berries and small yellow-green flowers.
The Other Provincial Flowers of Sweden
Now that we’ve started to explore the subject of Sweden’s provincial flowers, you’re sure to want to know what the official flowers are for the other provinces in the country.
So, here’s a rundown of the provincial flowers we haven’t yet covered:
- The province of Ångermanland: Heartsease.
- The province of Blekinge: English oak and mullein.
- The province of Dalarna: Spreading bellflower and harebell.
- The province of Dalsland: Water forget-me-not.
- The province of Gästrikland: Lily of the valley.
- The province of Halland: Hairy greenweed.
- The province of Hälsingland: The flax plant.
- The province of Härjedalen: Spring pasqueflower.
- The province of Jämtland: Brunkulla.
- The province of Medelpad: Norway spruce and the globe-flower.
- The province of Norbotten: Arctic raspberry.
- The province of Närke: Cowslip.
- The province of Öland: Ölandssolvända.
- The province of Östergötland: Bluebottle.
- The province of Skåne: Common daisy.
- The province of Småland: Twinflower.
- The province of Södermanland: European white waterlily.
- The province of Värmland: Arctic starflower.
- The province of Västerbotten: Kung Karls spira.
- The province of Västergötland: Common heather.
