Do US States Have Official Grasses? The Short Answer

No. No US state has designated an official "state grass."

States enthusiastically adopt official symbols—birds, flowers, trees, fossils, soils, dinosaurs, even state microbes (Oregon: Saccharomyces cerevisiae)—but grasses have been overlooked. Some states recognize state wildflowers or state flowers that happen to be grass-like (e.g., Texas bluebonnet is a legume, not a grass), but no legislative act has crowned a grass species.

What States Do Have

• State grass candidates: Big bluestem (Illinois, Kansas, Missouri tallgrass prairie heritage), Buffalo grass (Great Plains), Purple needlegrass (California native perennial)
• State grains: Several states designate official grains (Kansas: wheat; South Dakota: corn)
• State forage crops: A few recognize alfalfa or clover

If you're designing a state-symbols trivia night, "state grass" is a trick question. The answer: none.