Sweetbay Magnolia

Basic Landscape Attributes

Height Range:

10-20 ft. height

Fall Colors:

Glistening dark green leaves with silver underside, Yellow-brown in fall

Width Range:

10-20 ft. spread

Flower Type:

Creamy white flowers, 8-14 cm in diameter with 6-15 petal-like tepals

Shape:

Columnar or vase shape

History of
the Tree Species

First magnolia to be scientifically described under modern rules of botanical nomenclature,
Type species of the genus Magnolia
"Magnolia" honors French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715)
Named for the sweet-smelling bay-like leaves

Full sun to partial shade
Grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained, and wet soils
Tolerates periodic flooding

Flowers carry a very strong vanilla scent that can sometimes be noticed several hundred yards away
Yields clusters of red fruit -- not edible for humans
Leaves can be used to make a tea or used like a bay leaf to flavor soups and stews or make marinades
Tea made from bark is antiperiodic, aromatic, diaphoretic, laxative, stimulant, and tonic, used as a substitute for quinine in the treatment of malaria
Also taken internally to treat colds, bronchial diseases, upper respiratory tract infections, rheumatism, and gout
Bark has been chewed to combat tobacco habit
Tea made from fruit is a tonic, used to treat general debility and formerly thought to treat stomach ailments
Leaves or bark produce mild hallucinogenic effects when inhaled

Location on tree on Shelby Ave: