Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Magnolia virginiana var. australis
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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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, open 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 100' tall. It is often multi-stemmed and straggling. It has smooth bark, narrow, rounded crown, and shallow roots. It tolerates wet and swampy sites and has aromatic spicy leaves and twigs and extremely fragrant flowers. It requires acidic soils and has no serious pest or disease problems. Winter damage occurs in zone 6 and the upper part of zone 5.
An excellent specimen tree for lawns or tall multi-stemmed shrub for shrub borders. This plant is not as popular as southern magnolia due to its smaller flowers. It blooms sporadically over the tree during summer months. It is often planted in parks. Good for landscaping as it is a deer-resistant plant.
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.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils.
Quick ID Hints:
- Evergreen, laurel-like leaves silvery below
- White summer magnolia flowers
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Henry Hicks'
Grows 25 feet - 'Jim Wilson'
Cold hardiness, slightly larger flowers - 'Moonglow'
- ‘Tensaw’
Dwarf and cold tolerant
- 'Henry Hicks'
- 'Henry Hicks', 'Jim Wilson', 'Moonglow', ‘Tensaw’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Henry Hicks'
Grows 25 feet - 'Jim Wilson'
Cold hardiness, slightly larger flowers - 'Moonglow'
- ‘Tensaw’
Dwarf and cold tolerant
- 'Henry Hicks'
- 'Henry Hicks', 'Jim Wilson', 'Moonglow', ‘Tensaw’
- 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. 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
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in landscape
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 100 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
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Conical
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Spreading
- 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
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Up to 2 inches long cone-like aggregate 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:
- Head
- 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:
- 2-3 inch cup-shaped, axillary, scattered, sweetly fragrant (lemony), 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers adorn the Sweet bay magnolia in mid-spring and sometimes continue sporadically throughout the summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant 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 Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, laurel-like, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, shiny, 3"-5" long and 1"-2" inches wide, dark green above and silvery glaucous underneath. Leaves are acute, broad cuneate, and entire. 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 smooth brownish gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Description:
- New stems have green terminal buds
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Salt
- Wet Soil
