Magnolia virginiana – Sweetbay Magnolia (B&B.DR.EVR.FC.FRG.H.HMR.M.NB.OP)

Ecosystem Services:
(B)-Birds                                             (B&B)-Birds & Butterflies

(BTF)-Butterflies                             (BW)-Black Walnut Resistant

(DR)-Deer Resistant                      (DRGHT)-Drought Resistant

(EC)-Erosion Control                    (EVR)-Evergreen

(FC)-Fall Color                                 (FRG)-Fragrant

(GRD)-Groundcover                      (H)-Host plant

(HMR)-Hummingbirds                (M)-Mammals

(MTH)-Moths                                   (N)-Nectar

(NB)-Native Bees                            (NST)-Nesting Material

(OP)-Other pollinators                 (RR)-Rabbit Resistant

(SHWY)-Showy                                (SPC)-Specimen Plant

The sweet bay magnolia is a graceful, slender, flowering, deciduous to semi-evergreen native shrub or tree that typically grows 10 to 35 feet tall and equally as wide. As a tree, it has a spreading, open rounded crown, or it may be a shorter, suckering, open, multi-stemmed shrub. In the deep South, it is apt to be more tree-like, sometimes growing to 100 feet tall. The leaves are shiny, and dark green on the upper surface, and the undersides are pubescent and silvery. The flowers are solitary, and fragrant, measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter, with creamy white blooms that have 9 to 12 petals. The flowers will open in the morning and close during the night for up to 2 to 3 days.  After flowering, cone-like fruits of aggregate follicles appear and contain bright red seeds.

Sweet bay magnolia is native to the coastal areas southeastern United States and north along the Atlantic coast to New York. They are often found in open woodlands, shaded woods, or swamps.

The sweet bay magnolia prefers full sun to partial shade and does best in consistently moist to wet, acidic, and organically rich soils. This species tolerates wet, swampy, and boggy soils; whereas, most other magnolias are intolerant.

Unfortunately, this plant is not as popular as the southern magnolia due to its smaller flowers. It is an excellent specimen tree for lawns or tall multi-stemmed shrubs for shrub borders. It will do well planted near ponds or streams.

The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) is advocating for the Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) to replace the current state flower, the Cherokee Rose, arguing that the Sweetbay Magnolia is a native plant that better represents Georgia’s natural heritage and supports the state’s biodiversity. 

Host plant for several butterfly and moth species, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Palamedes Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, and Sweetbay Silkmoth.