Magnolia virginiana 'Moon Glow' - Sweetbay Magnolia

DESCRIPTION

Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana 'Moon Glow'

'Moon Glow' is an improved selection with more vigorous growth, better cold hardiness and slightly larger blooms. The elegant flowers are creamy white and have a wonderful lemony fragrance. This tree flowers heavily in late spring to early summer and again sporadically the rest of the season. The shiny, deep green foliage is exquisite and often used in fresh and dried flower arrangements. The cone-like fruits contain bright red seeds that are an important source of food for birds in the fall. Combines well with rhododendrons and azaleas.

Benefits

Waxy, white fragrant flowers for many weeks
Evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage
Seeds are a good source of food for birds in fall
Larval host plant for the Sweetbay Silkmoth
Vigorous grower, grows in wet soil

NATIVE INFO

Native Range

Swamps, low woods and savannas, mostly along the coast; from Eastern Massachusetts and New York to Florida and eastern Texas.

Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)

INTERESTING FACTS

Magnolia seed is surrounded by a bright red covering that is high in fat, which provides migrating birds with a source of energy.

GROWING TIPS

Plant in full sun to part shade. Grows best in acidic soil with consistent soil moisture. Prefers moist, rich, organic soils, but does quite well in heavy clay soil. Plant in an area protected from harsh winter wind in USDA Zone 5.

Mature Size: 15-35ft. Tall x 10-20ft. Wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-10

Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade

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American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose

Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:

Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted

Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success

Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.

When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.

A Special Note About Exposure

Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download

Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download

Best Plants for Birds - Double sided printout for download