Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The top half of the Arizona flag features 13 red and gold rays; the bottom half is solid blue. The 13 rays represent the original colonies of the Union and the red and gold represent the setting sun. The bottom half of the flag features the same liberty blue used on the American flag. A copper star is at the center of the flag because Arizona is among the major producers of copper in the United States.
Arizona's state flower is the saguaro cactus blossom, officially confirmed in 1931. This flower has a waxy feel to it but is also very fragrant. These flowers bloom during the months of May and June. A single saguaro cactus potentially has hundreds of blooms, but the flowers have a very short life span. They open at night and then close permanently the following day, often being pollinated in this short period. Later, the flowers will bear fruit on which birds feed.
The cactus wren became Arizona's official state bird in 1973. It is a small bird, only about 7 to 8 inches long, that will build nests in several thorny desert plants. The bird will use the natural defenses of the cactus to help shelter it from prey. The cactus wren will build many nests, but it will live in only one, the rest serving as decoys.
Other symbols of Arizona include the Arizona trout, the state's official fish; the ring-tailed cat, its official mammal; the two-tailed swallowtail, its state butterfly; and the yellow palo verde, its state tree. Turquoise became Arizona's state gemstone in 1974. The state's official song was confirmed in 1919 as "Arizona," written by Margaret Rowe Clifford and composed by Maurice Blumenthal. Arizona's state motto is "Ditat Deus," or "God Enriches."