Southern Sweet Bay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana var. australis

Other Common Names: Swamp Magnolia, Southern Sweetbay Magnolia, Sweet Bay Swamp Magnolia

Plant Details

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

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering or Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-30′ in Northern zones 5-7, 35-60 feet or more in southern zones 8 to 10

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: White

Flower Size: 4-5″ diameter

Flowering Period: Mid Spring to Mid to Late Summer

Flower Type: Single, Cup-shaped

Fragrant Flowers: Yes – Sweet lemony fragrance!

Foliage Color: 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

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist to Wet

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Wet Soil

Description

The Southern Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana var australis, 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. This species is more evergreen and heat tolerant than the original species, but is equally as cold tolerant. It will thrive in the landscape from the southern tip of Florida all the way up to zone 5 in New York. 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. Also called the Swamp Magnolia because it tolerates a consistently moist to boggy soil and periodic flooding.

Note: In the northern part of its growing range (USDA Zones 5-7) the Southern 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.

Landscape & Garden Uses

The Southern 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!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us