Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana

The sweetbay magnolia is a small, semi-evergreen tree with large, creamy white flowers that bloom in early summer. It grows in forested swamps and wetlands throughout most of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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A white sweetbay magnolia blossom with rounded petals. In the center, a large rounded green piece is visible with little curved hairlike strands on it. At the base of the flower are long green leaves.
Sweetbay magnolias have large, creamy white flowers that bloom in May-July. The small, native evergreen tree grows in forested swamps and wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay region. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Appearance

The sweetbay magnolia has long, oval leaves that grow 4 to 6 inches in length. The leaves are shiny, smooth and leathery on top, whitish on the bottom and have blunt tips. They may turn brown in winter. Large, creamy white flowers bloom in May to July. The sweetbay magnolia grows 20 to 30 feet tall.

Reproduction and life cycle

Bundles of dark red seeds are produced in early autumn. Animals such as squirrels and songbirds spread the seeds.

Did you know?

  • Sweetbay magnolias in the Chesapeake Bay region usually only grow about 20 feet tall, but in the southern U.S. they can grow to 90 feet.
  • They are listed as an endangered species in New York and a threatened species in Pennsylvania.
  • Sweetbay leaves smell spicy when crushed.
  • Early colonists referred to magnolias as beavertrees because they used the tree’s fragrant roots as bait in beaver traps.

Sources and additional information

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