Did you realize that Georgia’s state flower is not even from Georgia? Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) was designated as the state flower of Georgia in 1916 under the mistaken belief that it was indigenous to Georgia; however, it is indigenous to China, and its introduction to Georgia was the result of deliberate cultivation. The Cherokee Rose has since been designated as an invasive pest by the Georgia Invasive Species Council. The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) is actively supporting an effort in next year’s General Assembly to change Georgia’s state flower to the native Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) from the non-native invasive Cherokee Rose.
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) by Richard and Teresa Ware.
The Sweetbay Magnolia is a small, evergreen understory tree with a wonderfully fragrant and beautiful white flower. It is native to Georgia and can be found growing wild in much of the state. It can be added to yards and managed landscapes not just for its beauty, but also for its ability to stabilize soils and provide stormwater control. The Sweetbay Magnolia should not be confused with its relative, the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), which is a very large evergreen overstory tree that is only native to the Coastal Plain ecoregion of Georgia. As they are in the same biological family, their flowers are similar but the Sweetbay Magnolia flower and structure are smaller than the Southern Magnolia.
The legislature must act to change the state flower designation. Representative Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs) and Senator Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) plan to introduce the required legislation in each legislative chamber next year. Rep. Silcox, a native plant enthusiast, and Sen. Williams both recognize the symbolic importance of having the state flower actually be from Georgia. Silcox says her reasoning for supporting the change is simple: “The Cherokee Rose was adopted as the state flower in 1916 under the incorrect assumption that it was native to the state and also a legacy of the Cherokee people—it is neither. Georgia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with so many beautiful native flowers. We deserve a state flower from Georgia!”
Invasive species, like the Cherokee Rose, create costly control problems for Georgia farmers and homeowners alike. “Native plants are the keystone for our ecosystem. Loss of native plant habitat is perhaps the biggest cause of species decline today” according to Ellen Honeycutt, board chair of the Georgia Native Plant Society. “Without the native host plants, we don’t have the insects like caterpillars and butterflies that support the birds and all the other animals that are vital to sustaining a balanced ecosystem.” The Sweetbay Magnolia is the host plant for our state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and its flower supports many other pollinators.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Georgia’s state butterfly by E. Honeycutt
While the Cherokee Rose is not sold or encouraged as a landscaping plant because of its invasive tendencies, the Sweetbay Magnolia is widely available and can be planted in all regions of the state. “It would be great to have a state flower that Georgians can buy from local nurseries and feel good about planting on their property” stated Stuart Cofer, owner of Cofer’s Home & Garden Showplace in Athens.
The Cherokee and other native Americans relied on Georgia’s native plants to survive just as the early European colonists did. The myth that the Cherokee Rose was special to the Cherokee people was popularized many years after the tribe was forced to leave the state during the infamous Trail of Tears and has no basis in fact. The Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance not only supports removing the Cherokee Rose as the state flower but also encourages a native plant that was known by their people for the thousands of years that they lived in Georgia be designated as such.
Additional organizations are also supporting the change including Birds Georgia, the Georgia Invasive Species Council, and the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. What is most important in the coming weeks however is for Georgia’s citizens to speak up and voice their support as we enter the 2025 legislative session.
How can Georgians help move this change along? Please call your state senator and representative to let them know that you want their support in changing the state flower to the native Sweetbay Magnolia. The Georgia Native Plant Society has provided guidance on how to contact your legislators and what to say in a How to Get Involved sheet as well as an Information Sheet and FAQ Sheet. If you aren’t sure who your legislators are, visit find your legislator. The most impactful way to reach out to your legislator is by phone, a handwritten letter, or an in person interaction. For more information, visit the Georgia Native Plant Society’s website at gnps.org/advocacy.
Additional organizations are also supporting the change including Birds Georgia, the Georgia Invasive Species Council, and the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. What is most important in the coming weeks however is for Georgia’s citizens to speak up and voice their support as we enter the 2025 legislative session.
How can Georgians help move this change along? Please call your state senator and representative to let them know that you want their support in changing the state flower to the native Sweetbay Magnolia. The Georgia Native Plant Society has provided guidance on how to contact your legislators and what to say in a How to Get Involved sheet as well as an Information Sheet and FAQ Sheet. If you aren’t sure who your legislators are, visit find your legislator. The most impactful way to reach out to your legislator is by phone, a handwritten letter, or an in person interaction. For more information, visit the Georgia Native Plant Society’s website at gnps.org/advocacy.
