STATE FLOWER
Georgia's State Flower: Cherokee Rose
Georgia's floral emblem is the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata), named for the Cherokee people who spread it widely across the region and adopted by the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs in 1961.
Two Flowers, One State
Georgia is unusual in having two official flowers: the Cherokee rose as the floral emblem, and the azalea, adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 as the official state wildflower. Azaleas bloom in a burst of color each spring before fading within a couple of weeks — and while beautiful, their leaves and flowers are toxic to horses, goats, and sheep.
QUICK FACT
The Cherokee rose is a climbing evergreen with thorny canes, and its five white petals surrounding a golden center have made it a popular subject in Southern folk art and quilting.
