Sweetbay magnolia | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Magnolia
Family (botanic) Magnoliaceae
Planting site Residential and parks, Under utility lines
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale North America
Size range Large shrub (more than 8 feet), Compact tree (10-15 feet), Small tree (15-25 feet)
Mature height 10-20 feet
Mature width 10-20 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
Tolerances Occasional flooding, Wet sites
Season of interest late spring, early summer, early fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
Shape or form Irregular, Multi-stemmed, Pyramidal, Upright
Growth rate Moderate
Transplants well No
Wildlife Small mammals
Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Sweetbay magnolia is native to the eastern United States and is commonly found in wet or swampy sites.

Bark color and texture:

Young branches are smooth and green, older bark is dark gray.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The simple, alternate leaves are 5 inches long and oblong in shape. The leaves are medium to dark green above and silvery underneath. Fall color is yellow-brown.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Sparse, 2 to 3 inch diameter flowers are creamy white and held singly on the branch. The tree flowers in mid-June. Flowers are lemon-scented, and often hidden by the foliage.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The fruit is a 2 inch long, pickle-shaped structure (aggregate fruit) that matures from green to pink, then turns red. When mature, the structure splits open to reveal bright red seeds.