Magnolia virginiana
Common Name(s):
- Swamp Magnolia
- Sweet Bay
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
Magnolia virginiana, commonly called sweet bay magnolia, is native to the coastal areas southeastern United States north along the Atlantic coast to New York. In the northern part of its cultivated growing range, it typically grows as either a 15-20' tall tree with a spreading, rounded crown or as a shorter, suckering, open, multi-stemmed shrub. In the deep South, it is apt to be more tree-like, sometimes growing to 60' tall. It has smooth bark, narrow, rounded crown, and shallow roots. It is multistemmed, with an upright spreading habit. It tolerates wet sites and has aromatic spicy leaves and twigs and extremely fragrant flowers.
An excellent specimen tree for lawns or tall multi-stemmed shrub for shrub borders. Used in foundation plantings, near patios or on the periphery of woodland areas. It is often planted in parks.
This plant is moderately salt tolerant.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring, Summer Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall, cones
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils.
- Cultivars:
-
- 'Henry Hicks'
- 'Jim Wilson'
- 'Moonglow'
- 'Henry Hicks'
- Tags:
- Cultivars:
-
- 'Henry Hicks'
- 'Jim Wilson'
- 'Moonglow'
- 'Henry Hicks'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides winter and extreme weather cover. Host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Foliage and twigs are eaten by white-tailed deer in winter but it is moderately deer resistant. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Enhancement
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in landscape
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full Sun (Direct sunlight 8+ hours a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers are followed by cone-like fruits with bright red seeds that mature in fall and can be showy.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- up-shaped, sweetly fragrant (lemony), 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers (2-3" diameter) adorn the Sweet bay magnolia in mid-spring and sometimes continue sporadically throughout the summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Sweet bay magnolia has oblong-lanceolate shiny 3-5 in. dark green foliage which is blue-white to silvery underneath. The foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen in the South
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Bark is a brownish gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Similar plants:
-
Magnolia grandiflora
-
Prunus serotina
-
Cephalanthus occidentalis
