Commonly known as sweetbay or swampbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), this North American tree has a long and fascinating history. In the late 17th century, European colonists called it “beavertree,” using its roots to bait beavers. Long before that, Native American tribes including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw, used its bark medicinally to treat fever, rheumatism, and coughs. In 1688, Magnolia virginiana became the first magnolia species introduced to England, where it quickly gained popularity as an ornamental tree, a status it still holds today. Its large white flowers, which bloom from late May through early July, release a distinctive lemon-like fragrance often captured in perfumes, adding to its appeal among gardeners. In the wild, sweetbay magnolia thrives in the boggy soils of coastal swamps and along streams and ponds, though it can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions. It is considered semi-evergreen, shedding its leaves in the colder northern parts of its range. Native populations stretch across the southeastern United States up to New Jersey, with smaller, isolated groups in Massachusetts and on Long Island. At Glenstone, sweetbay magnolia grows near Tony Smith's Smug, 1973/2005, and stands alongside two other magnolia species on the grounds: southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and star magnolia (Magnolia stellata).

–Bonne Di Giansante