A newly registered variety of Alabama’s state flower has been named in honor of Governor Kay Ivey, marking a rare distinction and a symbolic tribute to the state’s history and heritage.
A delegation from Greenville, known as Alabama’s “Camellia City,” visited the Governor’s Office on Wednesday to formally announce the naming of the Camellia japonica L. variety.
Officers from the Greenville Camellia Society, joined by Greenville Mayor Jae’Ques Brown, presented Ivey with a proclamation and a plaque from the American Camellia Society confirming the official registration of the “Governor Kay Ivey” Camellia.
“I am deeply touched to receive this special and unique honor, especially since it is one shared with my predecessor and mentor, Governor Lurleen B. Wallace,” Ivey said. “The camellia has always been one of my favorite flowers.”
The camellia has been part of Alabama’s landscape since the early 1800s and was designated the official state flower in 1959. The flower’s significance is celebrated annually on Camellia Day, held January 7 to coincide with the height of the blooming season.
The naming of a camellia variety for a sitting governor is rare. The only previous instance occurred in 1968, when “Alabama’s Lurleen” was dedicated to former Governor Lurleen B. Wallace. Like its predecessor, the Governor Kay Ivey Camellia has been registered with the American Camellia Society.
Camellias also hold a visible place at the Alabama State Capitol. Sixty camellia plants were installed on the Capitol grounds in 2006 under the direction of First Lady Patsy Riley and continue to bloom for visitors each year. A historical marker recognizing the camellia as Alabama’s state flower stands on the north side of the Capitol grounds.
“This dedication is a perfect way to celebrate Camellia Day in 2026 by naming a camellia for Governor Ivey,” said Forrest Latta, president of the Alabama Camellia Society. “Nobody loves Alabama more than Kay Ivey, and nothing says Alabama more than camellias.”
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