Magnolia virginiana L. var. parva Ashe
Magnolia virginiana L.
Yellow magnolia, sweetbay, sweetbay magnolia, magnolia
This North American native is found in the southeast and along the east coast of the United States. Trees found north of Long Island NY, or in areas of the country other than those shown on the range map, were probably planted, not wild.
Plants: In the northern end of its range, this magnolia is often a multi-stemmed shrub 10–60′ (3–18 m) tall, which loses its leaves in the winter (”deciduous”). In the south, it tends to be a single-trunked tree up to 40–100′ (12–30 m) tall, and it is an evergreen. Bark is smooth and gray.
Leaves: Alternate, in the shape of pointed ovals, with smooth edges, 2–4½ ⨉ 1–1¾″ (6–12 ⨉ 3–5 cm). Leaves are green on top, whitish-gray below.
Flowers: Cup-shaped cream-colored flowers have a pleasant vanilla-lemon scent, and are 2–4″ (5–10 cm) in diameter. Their petals are actually tepals. Flowers contain the neolignans 3,5′-diallyl-2′,4-dihydroxybiphenyl, 4,4′-diallyl-2,3′-dihydroxybiphenyl ether, 5,5′-diallyl-2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl and 3,5′-diallyl-2′-hydroxy-4-methoxybiphenyl. I hope you are impressed. I know I was. Flowers appear from May to June.
Fruits: Fruiting “cones” are up to 2″ (5 cm) long, filled with bright red seeds ⅛–¼″ (6–9 mm) long. The closely-packed seeds are irregularly shaped, a bit like kernels of corn.
Habitats: Moist to wet sites with acid soils, including frequently flooded sites or those with low drainage.
Online References:
Magnolia virginiana L. var. australis Sarg.
Magnolia virginiana L. var. parva Ashe
Magnolia virginiana L. var. parva Ashe
This is yellower than I would expect, but I attribute that to flower age. · 4/12/2015 · Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/3/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
5/16/2014 · Acton Arboretum, Action, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
6/13/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
4/12/2015 · Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 7 × 6″ (17 × 14 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) 
4/12/2015 · Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
6/13/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
6/13/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
9/7/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
9/7/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
5/16/2014 · Acton Arboretum, Action, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (71 × 53 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
6/22/2018 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 6″ (14 × 15 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
4/24/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Magnoliales | Includes the custard apple family, magnolia family, nutmeg family, and others |
| Family | Magnoliaceae | Magnolia family |
| Genus | Magnolia | Named for French botanist Pierre Magnol |
| Species | virginiana | “Of or from Virginia” |
Magnolia virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.