This is a list of the officially designatedstate symbols of the U.S. state ofNew Mexico. Most such designations are found in Chapter 12, Article 3 of theNew Mexico Statutes Annotated.[1] The majority of the items in the list are officially recognized after a law is passed by thestate legislature. New Mexico is the first state to adopt astate question: "Red or green?," referring tochile peppers. The state also has a prescribed answer: "Red and green or Christmas," encouraging the use of both colors of chile.
| Type | Symbol | Description | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motto | Crescit eundo | "It grows as it goes." | 1887 | — | [2] |
| Seal | Great Seal of the State of New Mexico |
| 1913 |  | [2] |
| Flag | Flag of New Mexico |
| 1925 |  | [3] |
| Salute (English) | Salute to state flag | "I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures." | 1963 | — | [4] |
| Salute (Spanish) | Spanish language salute to state flag | "Saludo la bandera del estado de Nuevo Mejico, el simbolo zia de amistad perfecta, entre culturas unidas." | 1963 | — | [5] |
| Type | Symbol | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower | Yucca flower | 1927 |  | [6][Notes 1] |
| Tree | The nut pine or pinon tree (Pinus edulis) | 1949 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Grass | Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) | 1973 |  | [6] |
| Type | Symbol | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird | Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) | 1949 | _(3399096675)_(cropped).jpg) | [6][Notes 2] |
| Fish | Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) | 1955 |  | [6][Notes 3] |
| Animal | New Mexico Black Bear (Ursus americanus amblyceps) | 1963 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Insect | Tarantula hawk wasp (Pepsis formosa) | 1989 |  | [6] |
| Amphibian | New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata) | 2003 |  | [6] |
| Butterfly | Sandia hairstreak (Callophrys mcfarlandi) | 2003 |  | [6] |
| Reptile | New Mexico whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) | 2003 |  | [6] |
| Type | Symbol | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem | Turquoise | 1967 |  | [6] |
| Fossil | Coelophysis (Coelophysis bauri) | 1981 |  | [6] |
| Type | Symbol | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable | New Mexico chile | 1965 |  | [6][Notes 4] |
| Vegetable | Pinto bean | 1965 |  | [6] |
| Cookie | Bizcochito | 1989 |  | [6] |
| Question | "Red or green?" | 2003 |  | [6] |
| Answer | "Red and green or Christmas" | 2007 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Aroma | "The aroma of green chile roasting" | 2023 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Type | Title | Author | Adopted | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Song | O Fair New Mexico | Elizabeth Garrett | 1917 | [10] |
| Spanish Language State Song | Así Es Nuevo México | Amadeo Lucero | 1971 | [11] |
| Ballad | Land Of Enchantment | Michael Martin Murphey | 1989 | [12] |
| Poem | A Nuevo México | Luis Tafoya | 1991 | [13] |
| Bilingual Song | New Mexico - Mi Lindo Nuevo México | Pablo Mares | 1995 | [14] |
| Cowboy Song | Under the New Mexico Skies | Syd Masters | 2009 | [15] |
| Type | Symbol | Adopted | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slogan | "Everybody is somebody in New Mexico." | 1975 | [16] | |
| Balloon Museum | Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum | 1999 |  | [17] |
| Nickname | "The Land of Enchantment" | 2003 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Aircraft | Hot air balloon | 2005 | .jpg) | [6] |
| Historic Railroad | Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad | 2005 |  | [6] |
| Tie | Bolo tie | 2007 |  | [6] |
| Guitar | New Mexico sunrise guitar | 2009 | [18] | |
| Necklace | Native American squash blossom necklace | 2011 |  | [6] |
| Subject | Artist | Medium | Year | Location | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Chavez | Felix W. de Weldon | Bronze | 1966 | Senate Wing, 2nd Floor U.S. Capitol Building |  | [19][20] |
| Po'pay | Cliff Fragua | Marble | 2005 | U.S. Capitol Visitor Center |  | [21] |
| Name | Description | Commissioned | Image | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USSNew Mexico (BB-40) | New Mexico-class battleship | 1918 - 1946 |  | [22] |
| USSNew Mexico (SSN-779) | Virginia-class submarine | 2010 | .jpg) | [23] |
The yucca flower is adopted as the official flower of New Mexico.
Although no specific species of yucca is given in the statute, the 2015New Mexico Blue Book references the soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) as one of the more widespread species in New Mexico.[7]
The chaparral bird, commonly called roadrunner, is adopted as the official bird of New Mexico.
The species name is not given, but the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is native to New Mexico and is also referred to as thechaparral cock.[8]
The native New Mexico cutthroat trout is adopted as the official fish of New Mexico.
The state statute lists "the native New Mexico cutthroat trout". However, it is generally accepted that the Rio Grande cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) is the intended fish.[7][9]
The chile, the Spanish adaptation of the chilli, and the pinto bean, commonly known as the frijol, are adopted as the official vegetables of New Mexico.
Chile peppers grow on five species ofCapsicum. Community sentiment has it that the New Mexico chile (Capsicum annuum 'New Mexico Group') is the official chile, including having this chile appear on one ofNew Mexico's alternative license plates beginning in 2017.
