Magnolia virginiana
sweetbay magnolia
Notes:
Native to wetlands of the coastal plain.
Flowers at 8-10 years, but may not bloom as heavily as other magnolias. Easier to underplant than, say, M. grandiflora. Ideal exposure debated.
Leaves smell spicy when crushed; flowers are lemon-scented.
Dove/Woolridge are the outlier in claiming drought tolerance, and even then they don't even mention it in their descriptive text (just on the list). USDA is an outlier in claiming salt sensitivity.
Sources: Dove/Woolridge, Sunset, UFL, JerseyYards.org, Missouri BG, UConn, NCSU, USDA, Bir, Druse.
Buy it at PlantingTree.com (affiliate link; supports this website)
Tags:
acidic soil preferred
aromatic foliage
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:larval host
attracts:mammals
branches break
clay tolerant
compacted soil intolerant
deer resistant
drought intolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
exposure:part shade
fire risk low
form:multi-trunked
form:shrub
form:trainable to single trunk
form:tree
fragrant flowers
habit:columnar
habit:oval
habit:rounded
habit:upright
habit:vase
litter:minimal
native:eastern North America
open canopy
persistence:deciduous
persistence:semievergreen
pollution tolerant
pruning not required
resprouts notably
rich soil preferred
root disturbance intolerant
roots:coarse/few
roots:low damage potential
roots:wide-spreading
salt tolerant
sandy soil tolerant
showy flowers
type:broadleaf
use:border
use:deck/patio
use:espalier
use:foundation
use:naturalizing
use:specimen
use:street
water:regular
wet soil tolerant
wind tolerant
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