Sweetbay Magnolia               mag-NO-li-a ver-jin-ee-a-na

• Broadleaf evergreen, tree/shrub, 15-20(60) ft [4.5-6(18) m] high, nearly equal spread, often multi-stemmed, loose, open, may form a large pyramidal tree.   May be deciduous to nearly evergreen.  Leaves alternate, simple, entire, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 7-13 cm long, about half as wide, lustrous dark green above, grayish bloom below.  Creamy lemon-scented flowers, 5-8 cm wide, water-lily shape, appear in late spring to early fall.  Fruit are cucumber-like pods to 5 cm, contain red seeds.
• Sun to part shade.  Does well in wet swampy areas, requires acid soil, tolerates some shade and wind.  Shows chlorosis on calcareous soils. Several cultivars, one, 'Henry Hicks', reportedly remains evergreen at temperatures as low as - 17^o F.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas, near coast.
• Magnolia: after Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), professor of botany at Montpellier.   virginiana: of Virginia.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: northwest corner of Cordley Hall.