Rain Garden Plants: Sweetbay Magnolia
This is a slender, deciduous to evergreen multi-stemmed shrub or tree. It will grow more tree-like in the southern part of its range. Bark is smooth and pale gray. The simple, elliptical-shaped leaves are dark green above and silver below. Leaves are 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2.5 inches wide. Large fragrant, creamy white flowers open in the morning and close at night. Flowers measure 2 to 3 inches in diameter and have 9 to 12 petals. After flowering, showy, cone-like fruits develop that contain bright red seeds. It prefers moist, rich, organic soils but tolerates wet, boggy soils and heavy clay soils. It is intolerant of drought conditions. May need some winter protection.
- Height: 10 to 30 ft.
- Bloom color: White
- Bloom time: May-June
- Hardiness zone: 5 to 9
- Salt tolerance: Moderately tolerant of salt spray. Intolerant of soil salt.
Site Conditions
- Sun: Sun/partial shade
- Soil: Moist, rich, organic, acidic
- Hydrologic zones: Wet/moist
Sources
North Carolina State UniversityÂ
Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Jessica Chou, and Constance Schmotzer. Peer reviewed by Scott Sjolander and Sandra Feather. Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.
