State Symbols of Texas

Texas has many unique state symbols. They cover a wide variety of plants, animals and flowers. Each has been made the state symbol by a Senate Concurrent Resolution No. during a session of the Texas Legislature. Some are very old and some are very recent.

The Pecan tree was symbolized during the 36^th Congress in 1919. In 2001 it again was symbolized as the state’s Health Nut.

The state bird, the Mockingbird, was Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, 40th Legislature, Regular Session in 1927. With its distinct call and beautiful markings it was the perfect bird for Texas.

Another early state symbol was the motto “Friendship”. It came into being at the 41^st legislation in 1930. Texas has since been known as the Friendship State. Its early license plates carried the motto on them. On the other hand “Lone Star State” is just a traditional symbol not given any special legislation.

Many symbols that identify Texas, for example, the Longhorn Cattle were not made the state’s large mammal symbol until 1995. The Armadillo came in the same year as the state’s small mammal symbol. That year also introduced the Monarch Butterfly and the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat to the list. The Texas Horned Lizard, better known as the horned toad, became a state symbol in 1993.

During the 1960’s the Texas Blue Topaz was named the state’s gem symbol. Along with the Texas Star Cut for gemstone cut symbol these two represent the vast blue skies of Texas.

The bluebonnet is well represented in the symbols. In 1997, Ennis, TX was made the bluebonnet trail symbol and the bluebonnet city. Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival was given the bluebonnet festival designation. Named the state flower in 1901 as Bluebonnet,

Lupinus Subcarnosus, it had an additional resolution calling for it to be Bluebonnet, Lupinus Texensis and any other variety of bluebonnet in 1971. The state song “Bluebonnets” came to be in 1933. The Texas Bluebonnet was also made Texas Tartan Symbol in 1989.

The Square Dance as the state folk dance was designated in 1991. Cowboy Boots were inducted as the state footwear in 2007. These were joined by the Bolo Tie as the state tie in 2007.

Food takes up most of the list of Texas State Symbols; some dating back to the days of pioneers to the state. The State’s vehicle symbol The Chuck Wagon (2005) and the cooking implement Cast Iron Dutch Oven are cooking the way the cowboys did it.

High on the list of Texas Vegetables Symbol is the sweet onion. Tortilla chips and salsa come in 2003 as the state snack. Jalapeno is named to the list in 1995 as the state’s pepper. Sopaipilla and strudel as pastries, the native pepper Chiltepin, bread Pan de Campo and for the state dish Chili, all make the symbols list. The state fruit is the Texas Red Grapefruit.

Unique to the state’s symbols include The Confederate Air Force, a dinosaur, brachiosaur sauropod, pleurocoelus, the dog breed Blue Lacey and of course the Prickly Pear Cacti.

Texas State Symbols are a reflection of its heritage, from cowboys to astronauts.