Mayflower or trailing arbutus was chosen in 1918 to be the state flower of Massachusetts. The original proposal was made as early as 1893; however, a few competing bills were introduced: one in favor of three more (at different times) in support of mayflower. After all the bills failed to gain approval, the General Court and Dept. of Agriculture decided to run a state-wide vote of schoolchildren, and then mayflower received more than twice as many children's votes as water lily!