Buy Magnolia virginiana

Also Known As

Swamp Magnolia
Sweet Bay

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 10'-60'
W: 15'-20'

planting zones

5a-9b

4" x 5' pot | $23

Ships USPS, based on weight/location

Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

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Magnolia virginiana plant details

Magnolia virginiana is a broadleaf evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub or tree with green foliage. In summer cream and white flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Magnolia virginiana

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: magnoliaceae
Foliage: evergreen or semi-evergreen green
Mature size: 15 FT - 20 FT - wide, 10 FT - 60 FT - tall
Flowers: cream and white blooms in summer
Uses: fragrant, multi-trunked, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Magnolia virginiana

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: deer, heat, humidity and seaside / salt
Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The glorious southeastern U.S. native can be incredibly variable in growth habit. In northern climes, it tends to reach 15-20' with a suckering multi-stemmed habit. In southern climes it is more tree-like and can reach up to 60'. Three inch, creamy-white, multi-petaled flowers in spring bring a fragrance that can only be described as 'pure delight'! Deep-green, semi-evergreen foliage and showy bright-red autumn seeds add to the beauty to this water-loving shrub/tree. S/M

By: Forestfarm

(SWEET BAY MAGNOLIA) Slow growing small tremor multi-stemmed shrub, eventually 15-20' (larger in the south); glossy oblong leaves are semi-evergreen. Waxy flowers mid spring to summer are creamy white, cup shaped and sweetly citrus scented, followed by re

By: Secret Garden Growers

Sweetbay Magnolias are native throughout the South East where they can grow in either sunny fields or in open woodlands. Plants can often be found growing in bogs or other wet areas and is one of the few Magnolia species that can tolerate consistently wet soils. It is also far happier growing in heavy clay soils than most other Magnolias. The cream colored flowers are lemon-scented and bloom from late spring to early summer. By late summer the pollinated flowers develop into intriguing clumps of bright red berries.

By: Red Panda Nursery

The ???other?? evergreen southern magnolia, this much more graceful species has sweetly scented single white flowers midsummer borne above light green foliage. Small tree to 20 ft or so. Good as a street tree.

By: Cistus Nursery

Virginiana is native to the southeastern US and north along the Atlantic coast to New York. In the Northern part of it's cultivated growing range, she typically grows in one of two ways. With space and light, she will grow into a 20' tree with a spreading, rounded crown. Or, she will be a shorter, suckering, open, multi stemmed shrub. With both, she is deciduous. In the Deep South, she is more apt to be tree-like. She is an evergreen to semi-evergreen. Virginiana will grow to 60'. Her leaves are oblong-lanceolate shiny green with silver beneath. Her cone like fruits with bright red seed mature in the fall. They can be showy. Virginiana blooms in mid-spring with gorgeous 2"-3" cup shaped flowers. Each is creamy white and sweetly lemony scented. She has 9-12 tepals that are waxy and will often continue to bloom throughout the summer.

By: Ellipsis Gardens

Distinctive among magnolias for its shiny narrow leaves-dark green above and a downy white beneath. A refined small tree (best) or large multi-stemmed shrub given a prominent place in the landscape where its wonderfully fragrant flowers can be appreciated.

By: Heritage Seedlings

Cuttings from our deciduous clone of virginiana in the front garden, a nice early blooming form that has never taken any damage despite its somewhat exposed placement. Scent is hard to define but I am particularly fond of our clone's strong lemony fragrance, which carries well in the garden.

By: Arrowhead Alpines

Sweet Bay Magnolia will fill your garden with incredible fragrance for much of the summer. I have seen this tree get to 50' tall in Atlanta but out here in the northwest I have never seen one over 25'. zone 6.

By: Whitman Farms

2-3" white blooms with a light lemony scent with 3-5" shiny long green aromatic leaves that are evergreen to semi-evergreen in the South. 2" long pink cone-like fruit clusters of follicles ripening to reddish brown with bright scarlet-red seed in late summer. A small tree that is often multi-stemmed if left to it's own devices. Moderate to rapid growth. Generally 20' tall but can grow much larger. One of the few shrubs or trees that prefer Spring or Summer planting rather than Fall. Blooms Spring and sporadically all summer.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Also known as Sweet Bay. An exquisite deciduous to semievergreen, shrubby tree of 20-30'. Native to the eastern U.S. where it grows in moist, acidic areas. Beautifully long tapered foliage is glossy, olive-green above, with a glaucous, white color underneath. From June-September, delightfully fragrant, creamy white flowers of waxy substance adorn the branches.