We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Magnolia virginiana - L.

Common Name Laurel Magnolia, Sweetbay
Family Magnoliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet acid sandy barrens and swamps at low elevations[184, 229]. Swamps, bays, low wet woods, savannahs; chiefly in coastal plain and lower piedmont from sea level to 540 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America - Massachusetts to Florida, west to Missouri and Tennessee.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Magnolia virginiana Laurel Magnolia, Sweetbay


Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Co-attribution must be given to the Chanticleer Garden.
Magnolia virginiana Laurel Magnolia, Sweetbay
Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man)

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Magnolia virginiana is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Beetles.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. glauca.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The leaves are used as a condiment in gravies etc[183]. A tea is made from the leaves[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Aromatic  Astringent  Bitter  Diaphoretic  Febrifuge  Hallucinogenic  Malaria  Stimulant


A tea made from the bark is antiperiodic, aromatic, diaphoretic, laxative, stimulant and tonic[4, 222]. It has historically been used as a substitute for quinine in the treatment of malaria[222, 238] and is also taken internally in the treatment of colds, bronchial diseases, upper respiratory tract infections, rheumatism and gout[238, 257]. The bark has been chewed by people trying to break the tobacco habit[222]. The bark is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238]. It does not store well so stocks should be renewed annually[238]. A tea made from the fruit is a tonic, used in the treatment of general debility and was formerly esteemed in the treatment of stomach ailments[222]. The leaves or bark have been placed in cupped hands over the nose and inhaled as a mild hallucinogen[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Wood

An essential oil from the flowers has been used in the manufacture of perfumes[227]. Wood - straight-grained, light, soft, easily worked, finishes well, aromatic and yellow in colour[4, 46, 61, 229]. It weighs 31lb per cubic foot[227]. Used for furniture, broom handles, bowls and light woodenware articles etc[46, 61, 227, 229].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny sheltered position in a deep soil that does not dry out in the summer[11]. Plants are also tolerant of wet soils[238]. Succeeds in acid or neutral soils in sun or part shade[184]. Dislikes limey soils[11]. Tolerates some alkalinity so long as there is at least 50cm of good soil above the alkaline layer[202]. The branches are brittle so a sheltered position is required[200]. Plants are very tolerant of atmospheric pollution[200]. Mature dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c but the flowers are easily damaged by frost or wind.[184]. A warmth-loving species, it is best grown in the south and east of Britain[11]. The fleshy roots are easily damaged and any transplanting is best done during a spell of mild moist weather in late spring[182]. A slow growing tree but it flowers whilst young[182]. The flowers have a delicious scent of lemons[182]. A number of cultivars have been developed for their ornamental value. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 6. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk [1-2]. An evergreen. The root pattern is a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed must be kept cold over the winter and should be sown in late winter in a cold frame[200]. The seed usually germinates in the spring but it can take 18 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions when they are more than 15cm tall, though should be well mulched and given some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Layering in early spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Liriodendron tulipiferaTulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Canary WhitewoodTree30.0 4-9 MLMHNM123
Magnolia acuminataCucumber Tree, Cucumber MagnoliaTree20.0 3-8 MLMHSNM032
Magnolia campbellii Tree20.0 7-10  LMHSNM002
Magnolia denudataLily Tree, Yulan MagnoliaTree10.0 5-9 SLMHSNM12 
Magnolia dodecapetalaBwapen mawonTree35.0 10-12 SLMHNM004
Magnolia grandifloraSouthern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Large-flowered Magnolia, Southern MagnoliaTree10.0 6-10 MLMHSNM223
Magnolia hypoleucaWhitebark MagnoliaTree15.0 5-9 MLMHSNM222
Magnolia kobusKobus magnolia, Northern Japanese MagnoliaTree12.0 4-7 MLMHSNM112
Magnolia liliifloraMu-Lan, Woody Orchid, Lily MagnoliaShrub3.0 4-9 MLMHSNM03 
Magnolia macrophyllaBigleaf MagnoliaTree10.0 5-8 SLMHSNM012
Magnolia officinalisHou PoTree20.0 7-10  LMHSNM032
Magnolia stellataStar MagnoliaShrub5.0 4-8 SLMHSNM10 
Michelia figoBanana Shrub, MicheliaShrub5.0 8-10 MLMHSNM10 
Schisandra chinensisMagnolia Vine, Wu Wei ZiClimber9.0 4-8 MLMHFSM452

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Magnolia virginiana  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.