Scientific name: Magnolia virginiana

Common name:  sweetbay magnolia

Family name: Magnoliaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 5

Mature height and spread: 6m tall, 3-4m wide.

Form: rounded, pyramidal, multi-stemmed

Water use: moderate

Soil requirements: moist and rich

Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Simple.

Fall colour: yellow, brown

Flower/cone/fruit description: insignificant flowers (9-12petals, white). Aggregate fruit.

Limitations: needs wet soil. Like all magniolas is brittle.

Suitable uses: specimen plant. Flowers smell very good (melon, honey). Not as damaged by snow.

Quick ID: Semi-evergreen. Tree. Underside of leaves white (very unique). Alternate. Simple. Leaves in between leather texture of evergreen and deciduous.