It’s almost officially spring in the ATL, and we’ve alllll got flowers on the mind right now! From beautiful fields of daffodils to lovely meadows of endless tulips to… a new bill in the senate? That’s right. Even the Georgia General Assembly has flowers on the mind… and it’s in a big way!
Senate Bill 240 is seeking to change the state flower from the Cherokee Rose, which is not native to Georgia, to a new, native plant! Keep scrolling to learn more!
What would the new state flower be?
The Georgia Senate is looking to change the state’s flower from the Cherokee Rose to the Sweetbay Magnolia, a native Georgia plant, and one of the most representative symbols of the south!
Rep. Deborah Silcox, who carried the bill in the House, said,
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.
The Cherokee Rose is not encouraged by plant experts to be planted in Georgia since it is technically designated as an invasive species. The Sweetbay Magnolia, on the other hand, is not only native to the state, but a host plant for the eastern tiger swallowtail… which is Georgia’s state butterfly!
Senate Bill 240 would also “designate April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month.”
You can learn more about the Sweetbay Magnolia on the Georgia Native Plant Society’s website, here!
We’ll let you know any updates about this bill, and if it becomes law here in Georgia.