Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5b-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Large Shrub or Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′ in North, 35-60 feet or more in the deep South

Width at Maturity: 10-15′ in North, 20-35′ feet in deep South

Spacing: 6-8′ in North and 10-15′ in South for privacy screens; 20′ in North or 40 feet in South for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright

Flower Color: Creamy White

Flower Size: 3″ diameter

Flowering Period: Mid Spring, Early Summer

Flower Type: Single, Cup-shaped

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – Sweet lemony fragrance!

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Silvery undersides

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

The Sweetbay Magnolia is a magnificent North American native evergreen tree that produces sweetly fragrant cup-shaped flowers with white petals from mid-spring to early summer and then sporadically throughout summer. Small, cone-like fruits with showy bright red seeds are displayed in fall. Elongated, large and glossy green leaves with silvery undersides provide a lush, tropical effect in the landscape. Sweet Bay Magnolia has the ability to maintain a straight central trunk, which allows it to be grown full to the ground or lower branches can be removed to form a very attractive tree with a visible trunk. Will tolerate somewhat boggy soils.

Note: In the northern part of its growing range (USDA Zones 5-7) the Sweetbay Magnolia typically grows as a 15 to 20 feet tall and wide large shrub or tree. In the deep South (USDA Zones 8-10) it is apt to be more tree-like growing from 35 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide.

Also Note: Sweetbay Magnolia is evergreen in the South (USDA Zones 7-10) and semi deciduous to deciduous in the North (USDA Zones 5-6)

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing up to 40 feet tall with a spread of 20 feet or more, the Sweetbay Magnolia is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or in straight or staggered rows in privacy screen plantings or to frame the corners of tall homes and other buildings. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, North American Native gardens, white theme gardens, and wildlife gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 8′ in North and 10-15′ in South for privacy screens; 20′ in North or 40′ apart in South for space between trees

Growing Preferences

The Sweetbay Magnolia is very easy to grow in a most any moist but well-drained to boggy soil of average or better fertility, even clay-based soils, and full sun or part shade. No pruning necessary.

Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile phones.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Tree came in great condition and sized as described. Well shipped and packaged. Have. had it in the ground a week lost some leaves due to transplant shock but seems to be rebounding fine. Only thing I hope is that the variety I was given is the one best suited here. In my area. Found out there are a few varieties best suited for the North like Northern Belle.———————————Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Keep us posted about it’s hardiness. 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This was my first purchase from Wilson’s. I was look for smaller size sweet bays for the ease of planting. After checking with 3-4 local garden centers who didn’t have any, I ordered from Wilson brothers.. They arrived quickly (Ohio) and were packed well. They were healthy and the size I expected. I was so impressed I order 2 other types of trees from Wilson’s after receiving the sweet bays..———————————————–Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered this tree as a tribute to my recently deceased husband. It arrived in perfect condition, packed meticulously and was clearly a nice healthy tree. My son and I planted it and, within a very short period of time, it is doing very well with nice, healthy new growth. I’m very happy with my choice and highly recommend Wilson Bros. to my gardening friends as a reliable, quality place to shop.———————————————————————Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My trees were ordered and shipped in a timely manner, came out of the box in great shape. Have been planted now for several weeks and are already showing signs of new growth. They look very healthy and I expect them to live a long life.. thanks to everyone at Wilson Brothers…——————————————–You’re welcome! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Bought these for my daughters front yard as a surprise gift. She loves them. Very healthy. Looking forward to watching them grow! Would definitely recommend.—————————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope they enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This order is either the second or third order I made From Wilson Brothers. Initially I was very hesitant to order plants over the internet. In the previous order I had a issue with the order and Wilson Brothers helped me work through the issues until they were resolved.
Based on their effort I order 4 Magnolias and six azaleas. All of the plants arrived and good shape and the azaleas started to bloom within two weeks of planting. As a matter of fact, as shown in the picture below after 30 days of planting they growing faster and better than the existing azaleas planted 8 months earlier.——————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG