A proposal at the Georgia Capitol would replace Georgia’s official state flower, the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata), with the sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) and permanently designate April as Georgia Native Plant Month, no longer requiring an annual bill designating it as such, combining a symbolic change with an annual push for public education about native plants.
House Bill 955, also known as the Caroline Romberg Silcox Act, filed for the 2025–2026 session, is sponsored by State Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs). Although he is not a sponsor of the bill, State Sen. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) is positioned to carry the legislation in the Senate if it clears the House.
Supporters argue HB 955 corrects a historic error and better reflects Georgia’s ecology. Skeptics question the need to revise a century-old symbol and warn that updates to public messaging and materials, even if not required by law, can still carry costs.
In a written response to interview questions from Augusta Good News, Silcox said the push is ingrained in the 1916 resolution that adopted the Cherokee rose. The language used at the time described the flower as indigenous to Georgia and implied a historical link to the citizens of the Cherokee Nation, and the 1838 forced removal of these people during the “Trail of Tears.”
More than 16,000 citizens of the Cherokee Nation were removed from the Southeastern United States, including Georgia, to the designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. While the Trail of Tears may be a historical fact, Silcox said assumptions about this invasive non-native flower have since proven factually inaccurate.
Botanical references widely describe the Cherokee rose, Rosa laevigata, as an Asian plant introduced to the United States and later widely cultivated. It is a perennial, woody rose that can grow as a vigorous climber, spreading into thickets and over other vegetation. While it has long been appreciated for showy white blooms and used ornamentally, its aggressive growth has become a central point in the current debate.
Supporters of HB 955 argue that non-native plants can displace native species and provide less reliable support for local food webs, even when they are culturally familiar or visually appealing.
Silcox said the sweetbay magnolia was selected because it is native to parts of Georgia and is considered ecologically beneficial. Sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, is a perennial woody plant that grows as a small to medium tree, often in moist habitats. It is known for fragrant spring blooms and is commonly used in landscaping, particularly on sites with more water availability.
Supporters note that native plants better support native insects and wildlife because those relationships have evolved over long periods. Silcox said the sweetbay magnolia serves as a host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Georgia’s official state butterfly. It is already sold through Georgia nurseries and used by landscape designers, which supporters say makes it a practical choice for an official state emblem.
Silcox has said she and Williams accepted the recommendation of the Georgia Native Plant Society to select sweetbay magnolia, describing the group as the expert voice on native flora in the state.
Silcox is not the only voice driving the push. Michael Cowan, chairman of the board of directors for the Georgia Native Plant Society and chair of its Advocacy Committee, said the organization’s concern about Georgia’s state flower has existed since the society was founded in 1994.
Cowan said that for years, the idea of changing the state flower lingered largely as “hoping someone would see the light,” but became a focused effort within the last five years as the Society moved into more direct advocacy work.
Cowan said the group formed a statewide Advocacy Committee to engage lawmakers and policymakers on issues tied to native plants and habitat conservation, and that changing the state flower became the committee’s first objective because of its symbolic weight. He said the process of changing the emblem is intended to spark broader conversations about why native plants matter, noting they are the foundation of healthy ecosystems that support wildlife and, ultimately, people.
According to Cowan, the Georgia Native Plant Society consulted members and partners across the state, including native plant enthusiasts and contacts at universities and government agencies, as it evaluated options among Georgia’s nearly 3,600 native plants. Cowan said the society concluded the sweetbay magnolia would be a strong choice to represent the state and then recruited legislators willing to champion the issue. He said Silcox and Williams agreed to carry companion legislation in their respective chambers and were responsible for the bill’s specific language.
Silcox also highlighted the role of native plant experts in the selection process. She said the sweetbay magnolia was recommended by the Georgia Native Plant Society and supported by a network of environmental and horticultural organizations, as well as professionals in horticultural education across the state.
The bill’s second provision is intended to broaden the flower debate. HB 955 would establish April as Georgia Native Plant Month, a permanent designation intended to encourage schools, garden clubs, nonprofits and community partners to promote native plants and habitat preservation. Silcox said she expects native plant and gardening organizations, along with master gardener groups and local clubs, to lead celebrations and outreach.
Cowan said that if HB 955 does not pass, “the earth will continue spinning.” Still, he described the failure as a missed opportunity to reach a broader audience with a message he believes most Georgians do not fully understand: that many imported ornamental plants do not support local ecosystems as effectively as native plants.
Cowan argued public attention generated by a state-level change, such as ceremonial plantings of sweetbay magnolia at prominent sites like the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol, would likely drive public coverage and statewide conversation in a way local educational events often cannot.
He also said the question he hears most often, whether school materials would need to change, is one he welcomes. Cowan said he views updating educational resources as a feature, not a burden, because it provides a direct opportunity to explain to students why the change occurred, including the ecological role native plants play compared with non-native ornamentals. He said with better information, he believes most people want to make choices that have a positive impact.
Questions about cost are less straightforward than the bill’s text. HB 955 does not require the state to replace physical objects, redesign seals, or retrofit public spaces. It changes state code, and any updates to museum exhibits, printed materials, agency websites, tourism messaging and Capitol decor would largely be implementation choices made over time.
Supporters argue the approach keeps the financial impact minimal and allows updates to occur during normal replacement cycles. Critics counter that even voluntary changes can pressure agencies and communities to revise signage, educational materials, and promotional content to avoid inconsistencies, and those expenses, while not necessarily large in any one place, can accumulate across multiple institutions.
The debate ultimately turns on competing values. Supporters prioritize accuracy and ecology, arguing Georgia should not elevate a non-native species as a defining emblem when the state is trying to promote habitat, pollinator health and environmental stewardship. Skeptics emphasize continuity and cultural familiarity, arguing that changing longstanding symbols can create confusion and invite conflict over how the past is interpreted and taught.
Silcox said HB 955 is designed to advance both provisions together, tying the name change to a broader educational goal. Whether the legislation gains enough momentum to clear the General Assembly will depend on committee action and votes in both chambers. If it does, the bill’s backers say, Georgia would enter its next century with a state flower selected not for a mistaken origin story, but for a documented connection to the landscape Georgians live in and the ecosystems that sustain it.
The bill’s listed co-sponsors include Rep. Jan Jones (R-Warner Robins), Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta), Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) and Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford). The first reading of the bill was Jan. 14, 2026.
Click on this official link for more information regarding the proposed Georgia House Bill 955. Additionally, to learn more about the Georgia Native Plant Society, visit its website at https://www.gnps.org.
Nick Lovett is an independent journalist with over 20 years of experience in news media and marketing. A former writer for Aiken Standard and Fort Gordon’s Signal newspaper, she focuses on human interest stories that highlight resilience, community and positive change.
