- Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 15 - 35 Feet
- Mature Spread 10 - 20 Feet
- Growing Zones 5 - 10
Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia is a tree native to the Southeast of the United States and can grow in USDA zones 5-10 without fear of damage during cold winters. Magnolia virginiana ‘Moonglow’ has large, 9-12 petal flowers that bloom in June and sometimes will continue intermittently through the summer. The lovely white flowers will perfume your yard with their lemony scent. Moonglow is a semi-evergreen tree that loses its leaves quite late in the winter, just as the new ones are ready to emerge.
Sweetbay Magnolia is a smaller-sized tree that reaches a mature height of 15-30 feet and a spread of 10-20 feet. It is an approved street tree for many communities and does not have an invasive root system. Trees in the home garden become refuges for wildlife providing shelter, food, and shade. Moonglow is disease resistant and not prone to be browsed by deer or rabbits. Wet, clay soils are not a problem either. Moonglow will tolerate average to wet soils as long as they are acidic.
Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia Care
Moonglow Magnolia needs to have acidic soil and reasonably good drainage. Soils that are boggy or even swampy may be too wet, although Sweetbay will tolerate a short period of seasonal flooding. Add a granular fertilizer as a top dressing around the root zone during the initial planting. Make sure to water trees well for the first 2-3 years. One inch of water a week helps the root system to develop strong, deep roots. Place Moonglow Magnolia 10 feet away from overhead power lines and utility poles. A 2-3 inch mulch of arborist chips or shredded leaves around the root zone will insulate the soil from heat and drought. Make sure to keep the mulch away from the trunk of the tree. Moonglow will grow well in either a full sun position or a partly shaded spot.
Pruning is not a yearly maintenance activity, but some shaping may be done after the first 1-2 years. Prune off any lower branches that seem to be crossing or in the way of an open canopy. Maintain a canopy of upright branches that do not cross each other or show any disease or winter damage. Pruning is most straightforward at the end of winter, just as the leaves have dropped and the open framework of the branches can be seen. Loosely stake the tree with the stake pointing at a 45-degree angle toward prevailing winds. After the tree has grown and become sturdy in the soil, the stake can be removed.
Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia Spacing
Moonglow Magnolia needs to be placed in a home garden. Place the tree 15 feet away from any foundation or buildings. Place Moonglow at least 10 feet away from roadsides and sidewalks. When planting in a yard with other trees, there should be a 30-foot spacing between plants. Because the roots of Moonglow grow shallow, there may not be enough soil for larger rooted plants.
Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 10 |
| Plant Type: Tree |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 15 - 35 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 10 - 20 Feet |
| Spacing: 10 - 20 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: June Through The Summer |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: Deep Green |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
| Watering: Low |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Heat, Drought |
| Attracts: Birds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Erosion Control, Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: American Beauties Native Plants |
| Common Name: Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia |
| Other Name(s): Sweet Bay Magnolia |
| Scientific Name: Magnolia virginiana 'Moonglow' |
- SKU:
- 1231003772-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations