Sweet Bay Magnolia

Magnolia virginia

Size: 3, 7 & 15 Gallon

Tree
Max size: 60’ tall x 40’ wide
Average size: 30′ tall x 15′ wide

Very Moist, Occasionally Moist
Muck, sand
Part shade, Shade
Tolerant of inundation with brackish water, but not to salty wind or salt spray

AKA: Beaver Tree, Castorwood, Swamp Magnolia, Sweetbay, Sweet Magnolia, White Laural

This evergreen tree blooms from mid to late spring with large, fragrant white flowers. It produces inedible red fruits in late summer to fall. It is hurricane wind-resistant. It can form clonal thickets when growing in wet areas. It attracts many kinds of wildlife: the seeds and fruit are eaten by many different birds and mammals, deer browse it, and it is a larval host plant for spicebush swallowtail butterfly, eastern tiger swallowtail, tuliptree silkmoth, and many other moth and butterfly species. Beetles are the primary pollinator, and it has evolved to encourage beetles to pollinate more effectively.

Bark infusions can be used to treat cough; the bark was historically added to brandy by colonizers. Duke et. al (2002) lists it as an anti-inflammatory, cardioactive, diaphoretic, stimulant, and tonic.