The Sweetbay Magnolia has glistening dark green leaves with a silver underside that has a frosted appearance. The 2"-3" creamy white flowers have a light lemon scent and are visible in late spring and early summer. It is very elegantly shaped and is a good choice for a specimen or patio tree. Bright scarlet-red seeded fruit ripens in late summer attracting many birds. Prefers moist, acid soil with sun to partial shade. Grows 10'-20' high with equal spread.

Hardiness Zones
The sweetbay magnolia can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 5–9.

Tree Type
Mature Size
The sweetbay magnolia grows to a height of 10–20' and a spread of 10–20' at maturity.

Growth Speed Medium to FastGrowth Rate
This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year.
Sun Preference
Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference
The sweetbay magnolia grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and wet soils. It will tolerate periodic flooding.

Attributes
This tree:
Produces creamy white flowers 2–3" in diameter that carry a light lemon scent.
Blooms May through June, avoiding damaging spring frost.
Flowers best in full sun.
Typically grows as a multi-stemmed specimen but can be found with a single trunk.
Features simple leaves 3–5" in length that are dark green and often lustrous on top with a silvery, frosted-looking underside.
Grows in a columnar or vase shape.
Yields clusters of red fruit that attracts wildlife.
Works well as a specimen or patio tree.

Our unique, innovative packaging ensures your order arrives in excellent condition. We recommend that you place your order according to the ideal planting time for your growing zone (see estimated dates below).

Proud Products Guarantee!!

Plants from Daylily Nursery are guaranteed to arrive healthy and green. If you have any concerns or are dissatisfied within the first five days of receiving your plants, please email or call our office so that we can help make it right! Plants require proper care and nourishment to adapt to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, if your plants have received less-than-ideal care or were purchased for planting outside of your recommended growing zone, your purchase isn't covered by our guarantee. Zone recommendations are provided in our listings.

Plants are delicate, living things and we take pride in shipping them thoughtfully, securely and with great care. However, once they leave our facility they may encounter issues in transit that we have no control or influence over. Please note that much of our plant material, while hardy, may arrive damaged or no longer viable if shipped in severe weather conditions. Exercise caution and use your best judgment before ordering during unusually hot or cold weather (below 32 degrees F, or in excess of 95F for shipping purposes), as these extremes may leave your plant vulnerable to damage. We are proud of our products and our reputation for providing excellent plant material. We strive to keep our prices fair and reasonable and to deliver to you the best product on the market, and for that product to arrive at our customers' doors as pristine as the day it was packed. Please help us to ensure that you receive your plant material in peak condition and ready to plant.

Successful gardening requires careful planning, often full seasons in advance. Do your research and plan ahead for the best planting time in your area. Plants with delicate new roots need the best possible head start in getting established before winter, even hardy evergreen varieties. The optimal time for planting for most of our material is in mid to late spring, past the danger of hard frost. This allows your plants the longest possible growing season. Summer and very early fall are also suitable, as long as your plant is placed in optimal conditions and receives adequate water during the hotter, dryer periods of the summer. Late fall and winter are very risky in most areas, as our plant material ships from cozy greenhouses and will struggle adapting to very cold or frozen soil, or abrupt changes in temperature. This can easily cause damage, stunting, or failure to thrive. When in doubt about suitable planting times or zone compatible plants for your area, reach out to your local Agricultural Extension Office.

If issues with your plants arise within the first 30 days of receipt, please email or call our office. Our knowledgeable staff will review your concerns and provide guidance and troubleshooting, or a one-time replacement if necessary. The customer assumes responsibility for the cost of shipping the replacement.

Regarding orders placed for deciduous trees during their dormant period (winter or early spring) that fail to break dormancy by May 30th, we extend our guarantee beyond the