Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Magnolia virginiana var. australis
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-li-a ver-jin-ee-a-na
- Description
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The sweet bay magnolia is a graceful, slender, flowering, deciduous to semi-evergreen native shrub or tree. it typically grows 10 to 35 feet tall and equally as wide. As a tree, it has a spreading, open rounded crown, or it may be a shorter, suckering, open, multi-stemmed shrub. In the deep South, it is apt to be more tree-like, sometimes growing to 100 feet tall. The leaves are shiny, and dark green on the upper surface, and the undersides are pubescent and silvery. The flowers are solitary, and fragrant, measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter, with creamy white blooms that have 9 to 12 petals. The flowers will open in the morning and close during the night for up to 2 to 3 days. After flowering, cone-like fruits of aggregate follicles appear and contain bright red seeds.
Sweet bay magnolia is native to the coastal areas southeastern United States and north along the Atlantic coast to New York. They are often found in open woodlands, shaded woods, or swamps. This plant was introduced to Europe around the late 1600s and was known as the "Beaver Tree," because the fleshy roots of the tree were used by colonists as bait to catch beavers in traps.
The genus name, Magnolia, is in honor of a botanist from the 17th century, Pierre Magnol. The specific epithet, virginiana, means "of Virginia."
The sweet bay magnolia prefers full sun to partial shade and does best in consistently moist to wet, acidic, and organically rich soils. This species tolerates wet, swampy, and boggy soils; whereas, most other magnolias are intolerant. Winter damage can occur in zone 6 and the upper part of zone 5. There are cultivars available that are more cold-tolerant and even remain evergreen through the winter. This plant may be propagated by seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Unfortunately, this plant is not as popular as the southern magnolia due to its smaller flowers. It is an excellent specimen tree for lawns or tall multi-stemmed shrubs for shrub borders. It will do well planted near ponds or streams. Dwarf plants occur with smaller growth forms and leaves and can be used in foundation plantings, near patios, or on the periphery of woodland areas. This plant is moderately salt tolerant. During the summer months, the tree blooms sporadically until the first frosts.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Late Spring to Early Summer Foliage: Spring and Summer Fruits: Late Summer and Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- 10 to 35-foot tall deciduous to evergreen multi-stemmed shrub or tree.
- glossy, laurel-like, dark green leaves on the upper surface and silvery and pubescent beneath
- creamy white, cup-like flowers measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter with 9 to 12 petals
- up to a 2-inch long cone-like aggregate of follicles that have bright red seeds
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease issues, but it may be susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils. Scales may infest the leaves and stems, and weevils may chew on the leaves. Leaf spots can occur.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Emerald Tower'
grows to 20 feet tall, glossy foliage, survives into zone 4 - 'Henry Hicks'
Grows 25 feet, remains evergreen into zone 5 - 'Jim Wilson'
Cold hardiness, slightly larger flowers - 'Keltyk'
smaller leaves, compact - 'Moonglow'
- 'Northern Belle'
grows 20 to 25 feet tall, evergreen to zone 4 - 'Santa Rosa'
largest leaves, 25 feet tall, 20 feet wide, zones 6 to 9 - ‘Tensaw’
Dwarf and cold tolerant
- 'Emerald Tower'
- 'Emerald Tower', 'Henry Hicks', 'Jim Wilson', 'Keltyk', 'Moonglow', 'Northern Belle', 'Santa Rosa', ‘Tensaw’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Emerald Tower'
grows to 20 feet tall, glossy foliage, survives into zone 4 - 'Henry Hicks'
Grows 25 feet, remains evergreen into zone 5 - 'Jim Wilson'
Cold hardiness, slightly larger flowers - 'Keltyk'
smaller leaves, compact - 'Moonglow'
- 'Northern Belle'
grows 20 to 25 feet tall, evergreen to zone 4 - 'Santa Rosa'
largest leaves, 25 feet tall, 20 feet wide, zones 6 to 9 - ‘Tensaw’
Dwarf and cold tolerant
- 'Emerald Tower'
- 'Emerald Tower', 'Henry Hicks', 'Jim Wilson', 'Keltyk', 'Moonglow', 'Northern Belle', 'Santa Rosa', ‘Tensaw’
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States to Texas and Cuba
- Distribution:
- Native: Cuba and the United States--AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, and VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides winter and extreme weather cover. This is a larval host plant for Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) which has two broods from April-October and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilo glaucus) which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north. The adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies feed on milkweed, joe pye weed, wild cherry, and lilac.) and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) glaucus) which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north. Foliage and twigs are eaten by white-tailed deer in winter. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals. It is a favorite tree of the sap suckers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in landscape
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Conical
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are up to 2 inches long cone-like aggregates of follicles that are large and have many segments. They have bright red seeds that mature in fall and can be showy. The seeds dangle from the fruits by a thread and are relished by birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The bloom is fragrant, 2 to 3-inch cup-shaped, 9 to 12-petaled, creamy-white, and waxy flower. It blooms in mid-spring and sometimes continues to bloom sporadically until frost
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, laurel-like, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, shiny, 3 to 5 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, dark green above and silvery glaucous underneath. Leaves are acute, broadly cuneate, and entire. They tend to cluster at the end of the branches. This plant may be semi-evergreen to evergreen in the southern United States, and it is deciduous in colder climates.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin, smooth, and reddish-brown to gray, and may be mottled.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Description:
- The stems are pale green and pubescent, and stipule scars encircle the twig. The new stems have green terminal buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wet Soil