Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia

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.