Sweet Bay Magnolia, Sweetbay, Sweetbay Magnolia, Southern Sweetbay, Swampbay, Swamp Magnolia, Sweet Magnolia, Small Magnolia, Laurel Magnolia, White Bay, White Laurel, Swamp Laurel, Beaver Tree
Prized for its fragrant flowers, showy conelike fruit, handsome foliage, and smooth gray bark, Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay Magnolia) can be grown as a graceful, slender tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub. Evergreen to semi-evergreen in mild climates, the foliage of lanceolate shiny green leaves glimmers in the wind due to their silvery undersides. Solitary, lemon-scented, cup-shaped flowers, 3 in. across (7 cm), appear in mid-spring and bloom sporadically throughout the summer. Adorned with 9-12 velvety, creamy-white petals, each flower opens in the morning and closes at night. They are followed by showy, cone-like fruits with bright red seeds. Slow-growing, with no serious disease or insect problems, this Magnolia is perfect for a small patio or as a specimen tree.
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
6 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus | Magnolia |
| Common names | Sweetbay, Sweet Magnolia, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Magnolia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height |
10' - 35' (3m - 10.7m) |
| Spread |
10' - 35' (3m - 10.7m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Traditional Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
5 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
6 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus | Magnolia |
| Common names | Sweetbay, Sweet Magnolia, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Magnolia |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height |
10' - 35' (3m - 10.7m) |
| Spread |
10' - 35' (3m - 10.7m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Traditional Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Informal and Cottage |
How many Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay Magnolia) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay Magnolia) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
