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Sweetbay,
often called swamp magnolia or white bay, commonly grows on
low, or wet lands in the Coastal Plain and less often in the
eastern portion of the Piedmont region. It is often the most
common tree in bays and wet poccosin. Sweetbay sprouts up quickly
after fires, sometimes forming thickets. It often is cultivated
as a garden plant in the United States and in Europe.
Sweetbay leaves are oblong and 4 to 6 inches long, with smooth
margins. The leaves are blunt-pointed. They are shiny bright
green on the upper surfaces, pale or whitish on the lower surfaces
and have conspicuous midribs and veins. When crushed, the leaves
and twigs have a strong pleasant, spicy odor.
The creamy white flowers are cup-shaped, 2 to 3 inches across
and fragrant. The oblong, aggregate fruit is dark red and about
2 inches long. The tree may reach 60 feet in height on the best
sites but usually is a slender tree that grows 20 to 30 feet
high.
Sweetbay leaves remain on the tree throughout the winter in
the South, and fall when the new leaves appear in spring. In
northern parts of its range, sweetbay is deciduous.
Sweetbay wood is soft. It is used commercially for some minor
products such as handles, novelty woodenware and occasionally
as core stock for furniture. When large enough to be sawn into
lumber, Sweetbay is sold as magnolia.
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