Bill would replace Cherokee rose with sweetbay magnolia in Georgia

Georgia lawmakers are considering a change to the state flower, a designation held by the Cherokee rose since 1916.

GA lawmakers want to change the state flower after 100 years. Here’s why and the new flower

In early 2026, Georgia House Representative Deborah Silcox (R- Sandy Springs) introduced Georgia House Bill 955 to replace ...
The CitizenOpinion

Georgia’s State Flower should be from and for Georgia

The Georgia Native Plant Society reiterates its support to designate the native Sweetbay magnolia as Georgia’s state flower ...

New bill could change Georgia's official flower to the sweetbay magnolia

Georgia's current state flower, the Cherokee rose, is not actually native to the state and has been designated an invasive ...
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

RHONE: State flower flub carries important history lesson RHONE: State flower flub carries important history lesson RHONE: State flower flub carries important history lesson

For more than 100 years, the Georgia state flower has been the Cherokee Rose. But an effort is underway to remove this designation and offer the Sweetbay Magnolia as a replacement. The Georgia Native ...
redandblack.com

Georgia Native Plant Society supports changing state flower to sweetbay magnolia

The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) has expressed support for HB 955, a bill that would change the Georgia state flower ...
insider.si.edu

Metal sculpture, Georgia state flower - Cherokee Rose

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. Artist, Helen Hornberger, revived the ...