sweetbay magnolia

Description:

Magnolia virginiana is an evergreen or deciduous tree to 30 m tall. long and broad leaves. The bark is smooth and gray, with the inner bark mildly scented, the scent reminiscent of the bay laurel spice. The flowers are creamy white, 8-14 cm diameter.

Habitat:

Native to the lowlands and swamps of the Atlantic coastal plain of the east-central and south eastern United States. The original native range is thought to be from the eastern Gulf Coast to the lowlands of New Jersey. Whether it is deciduous or evergreen depends on climate; it is evergreen in areas with milder winters in the south of its range (zone 7 southward), and is semi-evergreen or deciduous further north.

Notes:

James Marioneaux 2/22/2015