While searching throughout much of the southeast for new species of plants William Bartram discovered Oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia Bartram) in Georgia during the 1770's, and his journal Bartram's Travels includes this drawing.  Oak-leaf hydrangea was the best choice when it was named the Alabama State Wildflower on June 1, 1999, because of its unique native range being throughout all of Alabama, but then restricted to only parts of the four adjacent states,  plus both North Carolina and South Carolina, and Louisiana.  The state flower had been goldenrod from 1927 to 1959 when it was changed to camellia, but in 1999 is was also specifed as Camellia japonica L., This followed the state tree being specified as southern longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Miller) in 1997, due there being lots of confusion resulting from southern pine being an generic lumber term for several species.  This link gives all of the Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama.