WHAT: Moonglow sweet bay magnolia, also known as magnolia virginiana Jim Wilson Moonglow, is a small evergreen tree. Its bright green leaves feature silvery undersides that sparkle and flash on breezy days.
WHY PLANT IT: Easily grown as either a single trunk or multiple-trunk specimen, it adds a natural grace in the garden. Its compact scale makes it a good choice for around patios, and it combines well with rhododendrons, azaleas and compact shrubs.
Its foliage, when crushed, releases a pungent, bay-leaf aroma. In early summer, fat buds open to reveal delicate cups of ivory-white petals that open a few at a time through the summer, lightly perfuming the air with the fragrance of lemon.
WHERE: It flowers best when planted in full sun to partial shade or bright, open shade. It prefers fertile, rich soil and regular summer watering.
It will tolerate heavy clay or sandy soil and short dry periods. It is one of the few garden trees that can even tolerate waterlogged soils.
HOW: Garden gently under magnolias, for they have fleshy roots that can easily be damaged.
Little pruning is required other than removing dead and broken limbs or rubbing and crossing branches. Pruning is best done while the tree is dormant in winter. Too much pruning can cause suckers that spoil the natural beauty of this plant.
ACTUAL SIZE: Its growth is vigorous in its youth, but it slows after five to seven years and gradually develops a rounded to slightly pyramidal shape with a slightly open branching structure.
In 10 years, it can reach 18 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Mature specimens can reach up to 20 feet tall with time, spreading to about 18 feet.
LEARN MORE: See www.greatplantpicks.org.
Source: Great Plant Picks
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