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Catalog Data

Life Form:
Semi-evergreen tree
Average Height:
10-35'
Bark Characteristics:
Gray-brown, aromatic when crushed.
Bloom Characteristics:
Cup-shaped, lemon-scented, white, waxy flowers with 9-12 petals. 2-3" wide.
Foliage Characteristics:
Oblong-lanceolate, shiny leaves with silvery undersides. Evergreen to semi-evergreen in south, but frequently deciduous in norther range.
Fruit Characteristics:
Cone-like fruits mature in fall and split open to reveal bright red seeds inside.
Structure:
Rounded
Range:
E USA to Texas, Cuba
Habitat:
Wet acid soils of coastal swamps and low lands of Coastal Plains; 0-61 meters
Description:
Sweetbay magnolia, while not related to any of the plants that culinary bay leaves come from, was used by Native American tribes in the southeast as a spice. This tree has lovely, white flowers with a sweet fragrance.
Hardiness:
-20 -40 F
Attracts:
Birds with seed and shelter, and butterflies as a host.
Bloom Time:
May to June
Provenance:
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Topic:
Trees  Search this
Living Collections  Search this
Common Name:
Swamp Magnolia
Sweetbay Magnolia
Swamp Bay
Laurel magnolia
Sweetbay
Group:
[vascular plants]
Class:
Equisetopsida
Subclass:
Magnoliidae
Superorder:
Magnolianae
Order:
Magnoliales
Family:
Magnoliaceae
Genus:
Magnolia
Species:
virginiana
Accession Number:
2011-2728A
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
Data Source:
Smithsonian Gardens
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax7aa66ac81-e115-409f-a04b-1be967df9b70
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2011-2728A