Magnolia virginiana
Sweet-bay Magnolia
Magnoliaceae
Plant Specifics
Form: | Tree | |
Size: | 40 (60) ft | |
Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
Flower Color: | White | |
Fruit Color: | Red,brown | |
Phenology: | Evergreen | |
Noted for: | Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant in moist areas. Wetland tree. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Considerations: | Clonal: will send up suckers in some situations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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(Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of inundation with brackish water | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil or other substrate: | Organic material (muck), Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil pH: | Acidic |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Seeds are eaten by woodpeckers, kingbirds, red-eyed vireos, mockingbirds, robins, thrushes, crows, cardinals, squirrels, mice among others. Deer browse leaves and twigs. | |
Insects: |
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Native Habitats: | Bay swamp, forested seep slopes, floodplains of small streams. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
General Comments: | The silvery undersides of the leaves are striking. Erroneously listed as a host for palamedes swallowtail butterflies. Palamedes swallowtails only feed on native members of the genus Persea. |