Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana
A graceful native magnolia with lemon-scented creamy flowers, silver-backed leaves that flash in the breeze, and red seed cones for wildlife. Semi-evergreen to deciduous depending on climate, it is a top choice for wet, acidic sites and rain gardens where most trees fail; magnolia scale is its main pest.
Field reference
Family
Magnoliaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
10–35 ft tall, 10–25 ft spread (larger and evergreen southward)
Hardiness zone
5–10
Soil preference
Moist to wet, acidic soils; one of the few trees that thrives in standing water and rain gardens
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
After flowering (late spring to summer)
Wood properties
Light, soft, low-density magnolia wood on a small, often multi-stem frame. Light rigging; pruning is mostly shaping and deadwooding.
Native range
Eastern and southeastern United States coastal plain, Massachusetts to Texas
Green weight
50 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Is sweetbay magnolia evergreen?
It depends on climate — sweetbay is evergreen in the warm South, semi-evergreen in the middle of its range, and deciduous in the North. The silvery undersides of the leaves are a reliable identification feature year-round.
Will sweetbay magnolia grow in a wet spot?
Yes — it is one of the best small trees for wet, poorly drained, acidic soils and even tolerates periodic standing water, making it ideal for rain gardens and pond edges.
Related species in Magnoliaceae
Tree Nerd Academy
Ready to sit the ISA Certified Arborist exam?
Video curriculum, flashcards, and exam-sim built by working arborists.