Other Names:  Swamp Magnolia, Laurel Magnolia

Description:

A medium sized tree with extremely fragrant cup-shaped flowers in spring, and then sporadically throughout summer; leaves are deciduous in northern zones; very adaptable, makes a wonderful front yard accent in the average home landscape

Ornamental Features

Green Bay Sweetbay Magnolia features bold fragrant creamy white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to mid summer. It has dark green foliage with silver undersides. The glossy pointy leaves turn yellow in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Green Bay Sweetbay Magnolia is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Green Bay Sweetbay Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Green Bay Sweetbay Magnolia will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.