Time to change the state flower from Cherokee Rose to a native plant

A Georgia Senate bill would make the state flower the sweetbay magnolia, a native plant that would replace the non-native Cherokee Rose. (Photo contributed by Alan Cressler)

Did you know that the current state flower, the Cherokee rose, is not from Georgia? Such symbols should be representative of our state. Senate Bill 518, an act to change the state floral emblem to the native sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), seeks to do just that. 

This bipartisan bill is an easy way to correct a mistake made more than a hundred years ago. Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) was designated as the state flower in 1916 under the mistaken belief that it was indigenous to Georgia. You can read the original text (pages 1046-47) from “Acts and resolutions of the General Assembly of the state of Georgia 1916 [volume 1]” to see that there was good intent behind this choice. 

Cherokee Rose is actually indigenous to China, and its introduction to Georgia was the result of deliberate cultivation. The species has naturalized since its introduction and is now considered a category 4 invasive plant according to the Georgia Invasive Species Council. The act was well-meaning, but the truth is Cherokee Rose does not represent Georgia’s natural heritage.

Ecologically speaking, Georgia is top notch. There are 3,569 species of native plants (Flora of the Southeastern United States 2023) – and those are just the ones we know about or have been able to properly document. Georgia and Alabama have the highest tree diversity in the United States. We should proudly symbolize this and represent Georgia with a native species instead of one originating from Asia. 

The majority of U.S. states have a native plant as their state flower (40 out of 50). It’s important for Georgia to promote native plant species in its identity to align with the state’s priorities. Gov. Brian Kemp has signed proclamations recognizing the importance of native plants, including recognizing April as National Native Plant Month and designating September as Georgia Native Plants Month. Changing the state flower to a native would be right in line with the governor’s initiatives. 

So why choose sweetbay magnolia? It’s a native plant found across Georgia and supports the lifecycle of Georgia’s state butterfly, the eastern tiger swallowtail. Sweetbay magnolia is commercially available for landscaping. In fact, it’s recommended for rain gardens and other green infrastructure for managing stormwater. And the flower is prominent and gorgeous; it measures 2 to 3 inches in diameter with creamy white, fragrant blooms. Georgians can feel good about sweetbay magnolia. 

Some sources cite that the Cherokee rose is symbolic of the removal of the Cherokee from the state in 1838 and that the plant was widely used and cherished by the Cherokee. While there may be some truth to these statements, the Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance has stated in a letter that “the Cherokee Rose is not a native plant nor does it have any significance to Cherokee culture.”   

Georgia has one of the richest landscapes in the nation and we should be proud of that. Let’s represent ourselves right with S B 518 naming the native sweetbay magnolia as our state flower. 

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