Magnolia virginiana
Overview
Uses: Specimen tree, moist and wet sites, rain gardens, stream and pond edges, native and pollinator gardens, patio or courtyard tree.
Benefits: A graceful native magnolia that blooms when most others have finished, opening creamy-white, lemon-scented flowers from late spring through summer. Its glossy green leaves turn up silvery undersides in the wind and stay semi-evergreen in warmer zones. Uncommonly tolerant of wet soil, it brings fragrance and fine texture to spots where many trees won't thrive.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Tree
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — open crown, single or multi-stemmed.
Bloom Color: White
Foliage Color: Green, Silver beneath
Mature Height: 10–20 feet
Mature Width: 10–15 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring through summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Sweetbay magnolia carries its lemon-scented, creamy-white flowers into the heart of summer, long after the big spring magnolias have dropped their petals.
The cupped blossoms open a few at a time from late spring onward, perfuming the air around the tree. Just as appealing is the foliage: lustrous green leaves with bright silvery undersides that shimmer with every breeze. In the South the tree holds its leaves through winter, while in colder gardens it behaves as a graceful deciduous small tree.
Adaptable and refined, sweetbay is one of the rare trees equally at ease in an ordinary garden bed and in soggy, low-lying ground. That tolerance for wet feet, combined with its modest size and habitat value, makes it a standout native for rain gardens, stream edges, and patios alike.
Care
Sweetbay Magnolia Care
Sweetbay magnolia grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, rich, slightly acidic soil. Unlike most trees it tolerates wet and poorly drained ground, though it adapts to average garden soil with regular water.
Keep the root zone consistently moist, especially while the tree establishes and during dry spells, as it is not notably drought-tolerant. Mulch to conserve moisture, and apply a slow release fertilizer in early spring if growth seems sluggish.
Pruning needs are light. Remove crossing, dead, or damaged branches in late winter, and decide early whether you want a single-trunk tree or a multi-stemmed form, training to that shape while the tree is young.
Size
What Size is the Sweetbay Magnolia for Sale Online?
Our Sweetbay Magnolia ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Sweetbay Magnolia Grow?
In most northern gardens sweetbay magnolia grows as a small tree or large shrub around 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide; in the warm, humid South it can become more tree-like and reach considerably greater height over time. It may be grown single-trunked or multi-stemmed.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called sweetbay magnolia, and also goes by swamp magnolia and laurel magnolia, names that hint at its love of wet ground.
Is sweetbay magnolia evergreen or deciduous?
It is semi-evergreen and behaves differently by climate. In warmer zones it holds much of its foliage through winter, while in colder gardens it drops its leaves and grows as a deciduous tree.
Can sweetbay magnolia grow in wet soil?
Yes, and that is one of its best features. It naturally grows in swamps and along streams, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens and damp spots — see more options among our trees.
Is it native to North America?
Yes. Sweetbay magnolia is native to the eastern and southeastern United States and offers real habitat value, serving as a larval host for the eastern tiger swallowtail. Browse more in our collection of native plants.
