Sweetbay Magnolia is one of our favorite trees for so many reasons. The classic, cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers that appear each spring are delightfully fragrant and beloved by pollinating beetles of all sorts. In the fall, cone-shaped fruits produce bright red seeds that add a pop of color and provide delectable snacks for some of our favorite birds. The shiny, mid-green foliage has a light fragrance when crushed and a silvery sheen on its underside. While the leaves may drop in the fall in colder winters, Sweetbay Magnolia can be semi-evergreen in warmer winters. Even if the leaves do fall, the new stems and branches remain a bright green throughout the winter. For gardeners and wildlife, there are few better choices!
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; easily grown in acidic, medium to wet soils
Size: 10’-35’ tall; 10’-35’ wide
Zone: 4 – 9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies; larval host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail; seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals
Photos: Samantha Nestory