Among the most beautiful flowering trees native to the American Southeast , both the southern magnola ( Magnola grandiflora ) and sweetbay magnolia ( Magnolia virginiana ) trees bring on deliciously fragrant blooms . Either tree can be grown in full Dominicus to partly shaded locations in the landscape , although abundant sunlight produce more amply integrated plants that create more flowers . southerly magnolia is appropriate to raise in USDA winter hardiness zone 6b through 9 , while sweetbay is grown across zona 5b through 9 .

Native Ranges

Southern magnolia is native chiefly within a wide band from easterly Texas to southern South Carolina . Its range hold out as far south as the eye of the Florida Peninsula , and little isolated pockets occur in slightly more northern reach , including North Carolina .

Sweetbay magnolia ’s aboriginal range is much larger . It draw out from southern New Jersey southeast across the Atlantic coastal plain stitch to South Carolina and then westwards to Tennessee , Arkansas and eastern Texas . In Florida , sweetbay magnolia extends intimately three - fourths down the peninsula . Isolated population of sweetbay fall out on Long Island and in coastal eastern Massachusetts .

Growth Characteristics

southerly magnolia becomes a thickly foliaged evergreen tree with a broad , Pyramids of Egypt - similar shape . It grows 20 pes to 60 substructure magniloquent and 30 feet to 50 feet wide ( although mod garden varieties vary in their mature size of it and growth habits ) . Sweetbay magnolia by contrast is varying in substance abuse , mainly because of climate . In colder winter regions it remains bush - like , while elsewhere it attains tree - like symmetry . As a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , it matures to 25 feet to 30 feet tall and 15 groundwork to 20 feet broad . It is slightly cone - shaped , but with potential for irregular fork and form . Sweetbay is also deciduous in wintertime , or partially evergreen if winters are balmy .

Ornamental Features

Southern magnolia ’s leaves are large ovals , measure to 8 inches long . They are leathery and glossy , glowering immature with bleary , rusting - colored undersides . The gravid , cupful - shaped white flowers measure up to 10 inches in diam , with nine to 12 flower petal . Fragrant , the peak come along on branch tips as early as mid - March in Florida ( summer ’s start ) to June in more northerly areas , and continue sporadically into early autumn . Sweetbay magnolia leaf is smaller , to 6 inch foresighted and narrower , but still long and ellipse . Its leave are brighter , tripping green and glossy with a whitish colouring on folio bottom . The creamy white flower measure 3 inches to 4 inches in diam , with six to nine flower petal , and slice to yellow when quondam . The odour of the sweetbay ’s flowers is a portmanteau of lemon and rise . Flowering season starts and ends more or less in the beginning than that of the southern magnolia wherever it grow , according to the American Horticultural Society ’s " A - zee Encyclopedia of Garden Plants . "

Horticultural Merit

Both tree are fear by gardener , specially for their show of fragrant blank flowers during the tender months . Southern magnolia becomes larger , remains evergreen plant in wintertime and traditionally in the American South and East the foliage and germ structures are used for Christmas decorations in chaplet and wreath . Southern magnolias make stately shadowiness tree diagram for parks as well as large - scale screening hedge rows . Sweetbay magnolia are used mainly for odd specimen trees in a garden , particularly if soils are pixilated . In cold regions , sweetbays are grown as bush and provide the pretty flower where the southern magnolia might not pull through .

Growing Considerations

Both magnolia Tree develop best in moist , fertile soil rich in constitutional matter and acidic in pH ( 6.5 or lower ) . Once established , the southern magnolia is much more patient of of juiceless territory and seasonal drought . Conversely , sweetbay magnolia savor dampish to waterlogged soils . While southern magnolia can withstand a brief menstruum of standing water over its root , it eventually can leave to root rot and kill the plant . Sweetbay can develop where shallow water pools , and it will last for months on goal .

References

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