Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana

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.