Mississippi Native: Sweetbay Magnolia
(Magnolia virginiana)
Downloadable Brochure: SWEETBAY MAGNOLIA
Other Name/s:
Swampbay, Sweet Magnolia, Beaver Tree
Description:
This shrub/tree is a semi-evergreen. Multi-trunked and upright, the sweetbay magnolia has light gray bark. This bark is smooth and mottled in appearance. Seeds, which are bright red and elongated, appear in cone-shaped clusters. Leaves are glossy green on top and bluish white underneath. Flowers are creamy white.
Season:
Flowers bloom in late spring to early summer. Berries emerge in the summer. Seeds are collected from the berries.
Size:
This plant reaches heights of 12 – 20 feet but can grow to 60 feet. Leaves reach widths of 1 – 2 ½ inches and lengths of 3 – 6 inches. Flowers measure 4 – 6 inches across. Seed clusters are 2 inches long on average.
Habitat:
The sweetbay magnolia occurs in a variety of swampy areas and moist, shaded areas, such as wet pinelands.
Interesting Facts:
Seeds attract birds and squirrels. Flowers are fragrant, and foliage has a spicy odor. Fruit will have a citrus smell when removing the seed from the fruit/pulp. In the later part of the seventeenth century, this tree made its way to Europe as an addition to gardens. Early American colonists used the sweetbay roots to capture beavers. As a result, the tree acquired the nickname “beaver tree.”
Planting Tips:
The sweetbay magnolia needs full sun to part shade and moist to wet soil. Plant from seeds collected in the summer.
