Violets
The state flower of Illinois is the violet.
Violets have five petals. They prefer cooler climates and can grow wild in fields, woodlands, slopes along rivers or lakes, and gardens.
Violets can be found in every county in Illinois.
Monarch Butterfly
The monarch butterfly is the state insect of Illinois.
Monarch butterflies are also known as the milkweed butterflies because that is all their larvae can eat. Toxins from the milkweed makes them poisonous to predators.
Prairie Grass
In 1989, the Big Bluestem became the state's prairie grass.
Bluestems can grow between 3-10 feet tall. The base of their stems are a blue-purple color.