Sweet Bay Magnolia, Swamp-Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a small ornamental tree slowly growing to 35 feet. It produces very fragrant creamy white flowers up to 3 inches across and blooms from spring through summer. It is hardy to zone 6 from the Massachusetts coast southward to Florida and westward to Texas. In its northern areas, the tree loses most or even all of its leaves during he coldest part of winter . In the warmer areas the South the tree grows as a broadleaf evergreen. Magnolia virginiana is frequently specified by landscape designers as a foundation planting near (8 to 12 ft from foundations) buildings and usually as a clump of 3 to 5 trunks. These photographs were taken of my own specimen in Louisville, Kentucky in August of 1999. It is about 18 years old and about 12 ft. high with a clump of 5 trunks not more than 1 1/2 inches across each trunk.

Of all the magnolias, Sweet Bay is one of the most versatile. It does not have the large waxy leaves of some species, but its lush leaves are light greenish-silver underneath and bright green on the top surface. It does not require as much space as many other magnolias. It thrives in high acid damp soil yet mine thrived during the summer drought of 1999.

Sweet Bay Magnolia can offer a lush tropical look in smaller spaces and is perfect as a complimentary shade tree for growing hostas, ferns, caladiums, impatiens and rhododendrons or azaleas.

Winter hardy in sones 6-9.