Sweet Bay Magnolia

(Magnolia virginiana)

Interesting Information About Plant: 

The tree is often used in landscaping as it has very showy flowers in the summer that have a pleasant fragrance.  In the southeast United States, the Sweet Bay is an evergreen tree, but if moved father north it can be a deciduous plant.  It was often used originally in Virginia, where the name virginiana came from, meaning “of Virginia”.  The wood of the tree has a few commercial purposes, as it is easily worked and finishes well, and is used to make furniture, boxes, popsicle sticks, and tongue depressors.  Beavers also often use the wood of the Sweet Bay both for food and building material.  There are also some medicinal uses for the plant, as the leaves can be boiled to make a tea that is a diaphoretic, a laxative, a stimulant, and a tonic.  Historically this was used as a treatment of malaria, and also for colds, bronchial diseases, rheumatism, and gout.  The bark, if chewed on, is thought to help people trying to break a tobacco habit. 

Common Name: Sweet Bay Magnolia

Scientific Name:  Magnolia virginiana

Family Name (Scientific and Common): Magnoliaceae  (Magnolia)

Continent of Origin: North America

Most Distinguishing Morphological Features of This Plant:  The large white flowers that bloom in the summer.

Plant Growth Habit:  Small Tree  

Height at Maturity:   More than 10 Feet

Life Span:  Perennial

Seasonal Habit: Evergreen Perennial  (as long as in a southern climate)

Growth Habitat:   Full to Partial Sun  

Manner of Culture:  Landscape Tree  

Thorns on Younger Stem?   No

Cross Section of Younger Stem: Roundish   

Stem (or Trunk) Diameter:   More Than The Diameter of a Coffee-Mug 

Produces Brownish Bark?   Yes  

Bark Peeling in Many Areas?   No

Characteristics of Mature (Brownish) Bark:  Patchy Bark   

Type of Leaf:   Flat, Thin Leaf  

Length of Leaf (or Leaflet):   Between the Length of a Credit Card and a Writing-Pen  

Leaf Complexity:    Simple 

Shape of Leaf:    Simple 

Edge of Leaf?    Smooth 

Leaf Arrangement:  Alternate 

Leaf has Petiole?  Yes 

Patterns of Main-Veins:  Pinnate 

Leaf Hairiness:   No Hairs

Color of Foliage in Summer:    Green 

Change in Color of Foliage in October:     No Change    

Flowering Season:  Summer  

Flowers:    Single 

Type of Flower:  Colorful Flower

Color of Flower:   White 

Shape of Individual Flower:    Radially Symmetrical 

Size of Individual Flower:  Larger than the Length of a Credit Card

Sexuality:   Hermaphroditic Flower   

Size of Fruit:    Between a Quarter and the Length of a Credit Card 

Fruit Fleshiness at Maturity?    Dry

Shape of Fruit:    Oblong-Oval   

Color of Fruit at Maturity:  Red    

Fruit Desirable to Birds or Squirrels?      Yes   

Unique Morphological Features of Plant: Fruit is a bright green until maturity and then becomes bright red.

Is the Plant Poisonous:    None of Plant

Pesty Plant (weedy, hard to control)?    No

Common Name(s): Sweetbay, “Henry Hicks” Swamp Magnolia.

Louisville Plants That Are Most Easily Confused With This One: Southern Magnolia