Magnolia virginiana 'Jim Wilson' MOONGLOW
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Tried and True Recommended by 4 Professionals
Common Name: sweet bay magnolia
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Magnoliaceae
Zone: 5 to 10
Height: 15 to 35 feet
Spread: 10 to 20 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: Creamy white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Fruit: Showy Fruit
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Wet Soil, Air Pollution
Uses: Flowering Tree, Rain Garden

Culture

Easily grown in acidic, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, rich, organic soils, but, unlike most other magnolias, tolerates wet, boggy soils. Also does quite well in the heavy clay soils of Missouri.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a semi-evergreen tree that is native to the southeastern United States north along the Atlantic coast to New York. MOONGLOW (‘Jim Wilson’) is a patented cultivar that is distinguished from the species by (1) more vigorous upright growth, (2) better cold hardiness with semi-evergreen foliage in the northern part of its range, and (3) slightly larger flowers. This is a medium-sized tree with an oval to vase-shaped form. It typically grows over time to 35’ tall with a spread of 18’. Cup-shaped, sweetly fragrant (lemony), 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers (2-3” diameter) appear in mid-spring (May-June) for about one month and sometimes continue sporadically in the summer. Semi-evergreen elliptic to lanceolate leaves are glossy dark green above and silvery-green below. Cone-like fruits with bright red seeds mature in fall and can be showy. U.S. Plant Patent PP12,065 was issued on August 28, 2001.

Plant of Merit

This sweet bay magnolia differs from species plants by having more vigorous growth, better cold hardiness and slightly larger flowers. It is a broadleaf evergreen that matures to 35 feet tall with a vase-shaped form. Sweetly fragrant creamy white flowers bloom in mid-spring. Showy cone-like fruits with bright red seeds mature in fall. This tree is easily grown in moist, organically rich soils, but also tolerates wet boggy soils, low spots and pond/stream margins.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils.

Garden Uses

Excellent specimen tree residential landscapes. Often planted in parks. Will grow in wet soils such as those found in low spots or near ponds/streams.

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