Time to tell you about my favorite tree.

I want a tree that is not too big, not too small, can grow in sun or shade, tolerates wet and drought, not too fussy about soil type, its evergreen or nearly so, it has gorgeous blooms that are fragrant, it blooms when many others have finished and keeps blooming most of the summer, and has two or more season interests.   Just one last wish, I want it to be cherished by the birds as much as I cherish it.  That is a big order to fill!

And the winner is——-

Sweetbay Magnolia  (Magnolia virginiana and M. virgniana var. australis)

Gardeners love and appreciate the sweetbay magnolia’s small, cream-colored goblet-shaped flowers in early summer. When the tight seedpods mature in late summer, the bright red seeds are eagerly consumed by birds. This tree is surprisingly hardy.  The southern form (M. virginiana var. australis), is usually evergreen and can grow up to 20 feet.  The northern from (M. virginiana) often has several trunks; it is deciduous or semi-evergreen.  Sweetbay magnolia grows in sun or part shade and tolerates moist soils and drought, prefers an acid soil.  The glossy leaves have silvery undersides, and the whole tree shimmers in a breeze.  Plant them by a path where you can appreciate the sweet fragrance of the flowers as you come and go.  Height range is from 10 to 20 feet.  Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

I purchased mine three years ago at a local farmers market. Not much growth the first year and I thought I had a failure on my hands.  I gave it more fertilizer and it is doing much better the past two years.  It is supposed to bloom in the 8 to 10 year.  Oh, how can I wait that long!

Sweetbay Magnolia

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