What is Sweetbay Magnolia?

Sweetbay Magnolia, scientifically known as Magnolia Virginiana , is an evergreen or deciduous tree that belongs to the Magnoliaceae family. This tree is usually grown for the distinctive color of its foliage, fruit and flowers. It is originally from the southeastern part of the United States and is commonly used to design the landscape. Most of these trees are located in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in the USA. Natural sites Sweetbay Magnolia have wet and wet soils such as swamps or along streams and ponds.

Generally grows a magnolic tree to a height of about 50 to 90 feet (15 to 27 m). With a smooth gray -brown bark, the branches spread sparsely to create an open crown. When a tree is grown outside Floride, it usually grows less than 30 feet (about 9 m) tall. Depending on the climate, sweetbay magnolia is either deciduous or evergreen. It is short -term in the northern part of the United States due to the cold of Winters, and evergreen and longer -term in the southern regions due to a milder climate in these regions.

Simple Magnolia Sweetbay leaves are arranged alternately. Their texture is glossy and smooth on the upper surface, while fine hair covers the surface below it. These leather oval on elongated leaves have sincerely pointed tips and measure about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm).

At the end of spring and early summer, Sweetbay Magnolia carries fragrant and creamy white flowers. The flowers have 6 to 15 petals and measure a diameter of about 3 to 6 inches (8 to 14 cm). Its strong vanilla fragrance is usually very noticeable, even from a distance.

6 matures at the beginning of autumn and measures a length of approximately 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm). When the follicles open, flat, red and oval beds are released, each measuring about 0.4 inches (1 cm) long. These seeds eat some birds on fruit; The red coating is cleaved, but the inner part of the seed is scattered in the droppings. Fruit also serves as a source of food for gray squirrels, wild turkey and small rodents.

In 1678, Sweetbay Magnolia was brought to England and introduced to European gardens. The colonists called it a beaver tree because the beavers were trapped in the trap of the fleshy roots of this tree as a bait. Other common names used to designate this tree include Whitebay, Swampbay and Swamp Magnolia.