Sweetbay Magnolia is a semi-evergreen tree or shrub of coastal plain wetlands and swamps along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Its creamy white flowers emit a powerfully sweet, lemony fragrance in late spring and summer. The red seeds in fall attract many birds, and the plant is a larval host for the tiger swallowtail butterfly.
Best time to see a Sweetbay Magnolia
The best time to see a Sweetbay Magnolia is April–August, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 12,714 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Sweetbay Magnolia? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Sweetbay Magnolia sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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