New Year, New Flower for Georgia

 

If you haven’t heard already, the current state floral emblem for Georgia is an exotic rose - Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) - that was mistakenly considered to be indigenous (that is, native) to Georgia when it was nominated in 1916. While some people think it honors the Cherokee people, we know now that the Cherokee citizens of Georgia would rather support a native plant (read more in this FAQ). That rose was later classified as invasive because of its ability to spread and outcompete native species.

Last year, the Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) initiated an effort with the Georgia Legislature to change the state flower emblem to a native flower, the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). That effort didn’t complete before the session ended, so this year it is being renewed in both the State House and the State Senate.

Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

As a member of the GNPS Board, I have been involved in this effort and I’d like to encourage all Georgia citizens to contact both your State Representative and State Senator to show your support for this change. GNPS has created some documentation (like the FAQ) to help you understand more and as something that you can share when you contact your State Representative and State Senator. The full collection of downloadable and printable resources can be found on the GNPS advocacy page.

Here is some sample text that you can use when you write your elected officials. Find your legislator’s name and contact details here. The House bill number is HB145.

“Senator/Representative <name>: I am in your district and I'm writing to ask you to support legislative efforts by Sen Rick Williams and Rep Deborah Silcox in 2025 to change the state flower from an exotic rose to the native sweetbay magnolia. This document from the Georgia Native Plant Society helps explain: https://gnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/State-Flower-Change-FAQs.docx.pdf

Thanks and please let me know if I can count on you to vote in favor of this change.”

Georgia deserves to have a state floral emblem that represents the beauty of Georgia’s native plants. In addition, the sweetbay magnolia is a plant that can be planted almost throughout Georgia in residential landscapes and business landscaping. It benefits our native pollinators, especially our state butterfly, the Eastern tiger swallowtail, who uses it as a host plant.

As the old saying goes, “When we know better, we can do better.” Now that we know it was a mistake to nominate an exotic rose in 1916, it’s time to fix that mistake. Your letters to your legislators can really make a difference as they really do listen to their constituents in matters like this. Let’s go native!