Light. Plant in full sun or partial shade.
Water. Water at least twice a week for the first few months. It grows naturally in swamps and handles wet soil, but its drought tolerance is low, so water during dry spells.
Soil and feeding. Prefers rich, acidic soil. It suits rain gardens, swales and other moist spots.
Size. Usually 20–30 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide, with a narrow, upright shape. Old trees can grow much taller.
Pruning. Needs little pruning. Keep one central trunk or let it grow multi-trunked.
Problems to watch. Scale can infest leaves and twigs, mostly on dry sites where the tree is stressed. Leaf spots are minor.
Good to know. A Florida native with lemon-scented white flowers and red seeds that birds eat. It is a larval host for tiger swallowtail butterflies. It has low salt tolerance, so keep it away from salt spray.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Sweetbay Magnolia · UF/IFAS EDIS ST384: Magnolia virginiana: Sweetbay Magnolia · Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Magnolia virginiana
