Sweetbay Magnolia-Magnolia virginiana

Medium-sized | Deciduous | Height: 30-60 ft.| Spread: 10-35 ft.

The Sweetbay Magnolia is native to the coast of the southeastern United States and grows as far north as New York. It prefers partial-shade to full sun with organically rich, acidic soils. This species tolerates the wetter soils of boggy and swampy climates, unlike other magnolia species. The leaves are elliptical and two-toned, with a glossy-dark top and a light, more silvery underside. The tree produces creamy-white, cup-shaped flowers that appear in the late-spring through the summer that produce a sweet fragrance. 

This tree is an excellent choice for pollinators and wild-life gardens. It is a source of food for birds like the sapsucker, robin, and cardinals, all of whom feast on the tree’s bright red seeds. Additionally, it is an important larval host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. 

To read more about this species, visit https://www.gardenia.net/plant/magnolia-virginiana-sweet-bay-magnolia.