The Cherokee rose is the official state flower of Georgia — a fragrant white climbing rose with a golden center.

• Official flower: Cherokee rose
• Scientific name: Rosa laevigata
• Year adopted: 1916
• Native range: the southeastern U.S.

About the cherokee rose

Georgia adopted the Cherokee rose in 1916. Its large, single white blooms and glossy evergreen leaves climb over fences and trees across the South. The flower is tied to a legend of the Trail of Tears, in which the roses were said to have grown where the tears of Cherokee mothers fell.

Where it grows

Though named for the Cherokee people, the rose originally came from Asia and later naturalized across the southeastern United States, where it blooms in early spring.

Georgia state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Georgia?

Georgia’s state flower is the cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata), which it adopted in 1916.

When did Georgia adopt its state flower?

Georgia designated the cherokee rose as its official state flower in 1916.

Is the Cherokee rose native to Georgia?

Despite its name, the Cherokee rose originated in Asia. It naturalized across the American South and became linked to the history of the Cherokee people.

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