Sweetbay Magnolia Tree

Facts about Sweetbay Magnolia Tree, "Scientific name for Sweetbay Magnolia is Magnolia virginiana". Sweetbay Magnolia Tree is also referred to as beaver tree, swampbay, whitebay, or swamp magnolia. It is a member of Magnoliaceae family and genus Magnolia. Sweetbay Magnolia is a deciduous or evergreen tree that is native to swamps and lowlands of the south eastern and east-central United States.

Characteristics of Sweetbay Magnolia Tree

This species of magnolia grows to a height of 10 to 35 feet (3.04 to 10.66 meter) and a spread that ranges from 10 to 35 feet (3.04 to 10.66 meters). The deciduous or evergreen nature of Magnolia virginiana is determined by the climate. In south areas where there is milder winters, these magnolias are evergreen but further north as the climate changes, they are deciduous or semi-green. Sweetbay Magnolia Trees bark is smooth and gray while the inner bark is mildly scented. The leaves are not pinnate or lobed but just simple with margins measuring 2 3/8 to 4 3/4 inches (6 to 12 cm) long and 1 3/16 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) wide.

Sweetbay Magnolia flowers are creamy white with 6 to 15 petal-like tepals. These flowers have a very strong vanilla scent. Its fruits are pinkish-red in color when mature and when the follicles split open, they release seeds that are about 3/8 inches (1 cm) long. These seeds are black in color but covered by a thinly red coat that attracts fruit-eating birds. It blooms in mid-spring as from May to June.

Growing Conditions for Sweetbay Magnolia Tree

The Sweetbay Magnolia Tree grows best in organically rich and moist soils in full morning sun to part shade. Unlike other species of magnolia, the Sweetbay Magnolia Tree is tolerant to wet, boggy soils and air pollution. They can also do well in heavy clay soils. Requires medium to wet water to grow well and also requires very little maintenance.

Problems with Sweetbay Magnolia Tree

These magnolias are prone to chlorosis in highly alkaline soils. They are also not winter hardy but no serious disease or insect problems that have been reported in regard to Sweetbay Magnolia Tree.

Uses of Sweetbay Magnolia Tree
A Full grown Sweetbay Magnolia Tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds (21.77 kg) of carbon dioxide a year. The same Sweetbay Magnolia Tree could also produce enough oxygen in a day for two people. In a single day, a large Tree can drink up to 100 gallons (378.5 liter) of water from the ground and discharge it into the air.
You can tell a Sweetbay Magnolia Trees age by the number of growth rings. Growth rings size shows what kind of conditions accrued that year, the temperature and if it was a dry or wet year.
Bark of the Sweetbay Magnolia Tree protects it from the elements and is made up of dead cells.
Sweetbay Magnolia Tree roots usually grow two to three times the width of the tree branches. The ideal time to fertilize your Tree is in late fall or early spring. If you want to transplant a Sweetbay Magnolia Tree do it in fall, this is ideal for most trees.

Sweetbay Magnolia Tree is an amazing tree for lawns and yards. It is also planted in parks, near patios as well as on the periphery of woodland areas. You can also plant this species of magnolia near streams or ponds.

Sweetbay Magnolia Tree growth is referred to as Meristem (The undifferentiated embryonic plant tissue from which new cells are created, as that at the tip of a root or stem). This tissue can be found at the tips of shoots and leaves. Inside the stem growth in thickness occurs at the vascular cambium.
Sweetbay Magnolia Trees make their own food from sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients from the soil.
Sweetbay Magnolia Tree leaves are made up of many colored pigments, green chlorophyll hides the colors during the growing season of spring and summer. As days get Shorter and cooler temperatures come in the fall, it cause the chlorophyll to break down and than the other color pigments can be seen.