Magnolia virginiana var. australis, commonly known as Sweetbay Magnolia, is a small to medium-sized tree that can be deciduous or semi-evergreen depending on the climate. It is native to wetlands, swamp margins, and lowland forests in the southeastern United States. This variety typically grows 10-20 feet tall but can reach up to 60 feet in the wild. The Sweetbay Magnolia has a slender, upright form with smooth, gray bark. Its creamy white flowers, which are lemon-scented, bloom from late spring to early summer and are quite showy, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The Sweetbay Magnolia is valued for its fragrant flowers, attractive, glossy green leaves with silvery undersides, and red seeded fruit that attracts birds. It is often used in residential landscapes, as a specimen tree, or in naturalized areas. This tree is relatively low maintenance, tolerating wet conditions and requiring full sun to partial shade. It prefers moist, acidic soils with good drainage. While it is generally disease-resistant, it can be susceptible to leaf spot and scale insects. The Sweetbay Magnolia is not typically invasive but can spread through root suckers if not managed.CC BY-SA 4.0