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The Sweetbay Magnolia 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. 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. Will tolerate somewhat boggy soils.

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

Also Note: Sweetbay Magnolia is evergreen in the South (USDA Zones 7-10) and semi deciduous to deciduous in the North (USDA Zones 5-6)

Growing up to 40 feet tall with a spread of 20 feet or more, the 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 

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.