Magnolia virginiana is a plant that is native to the eastern United States. It is a deciduous tree that can grow to be 60 feet tall. The leaves of the magnolia virginiana are 6-8 inches long and are dark green in color. The flowers of the magnolia virginiana are white and have 8-12 petals. The magnolia virginiana blooms in the spring and the flowers are fragrant.
Related plant:
Magnolia Figo
Related plant:
Sweet Bay Magnolia Tree
About soil condition, magnolia virginiana prefer well-drained soil, but also tolerate average to wet soils, including heavy clay. In fact, it will grow in just about any soil type as long as it is not too dry. The only time it may have some problems is if the soil is too alkaline.
So, like the other magnolia trees, the magnolia virginiana requires full sun in order to flourish. In fact, it needs at least six hours of direct sunlight each day in order to produce the beautiful flowers for which it is known. Without adequate sunlight, the tree will not bloom as profusely, and the flowers it does produce will be smaller and less vibrant. So if you want to grow a healthy and beautiful magnolia virginiana, make sure to plant it in a spot that gets plenty of sun!
The temperature condition that is most ideal for the growth of the magnolia virginiana is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant is native to the southeastern United States and can be found growing in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. The magnolia virginiana prefers a humid environment and is often found near bodies of water.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is around 50%. If the air is too dry, the leaves will start to drop and the plant will become stressed. If the air is too humid, the leaves will start to yellow and the plant will become susceptible to fungal diseases.
The fertilizer, this type of plant prefers, is 0-10-10. This blend provides an equal balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which is essential to the growth of the plant. The roots of the magnolia virginiana are relatively shallow, so care must be taken not to overwater the plant.
Pruning is an important part of keeping your magnolia virginiana healthy and vigorous. Depending on the type of pruning you are doing, you will want to use different techniques. For example, if you are doing heading back pruning, you will want to use a sharp pair of pruning shears to make clean cuts. If you are doing thinning out pruning, you will want to use a sharp pair of pruning loppers to remove whole branches.
Propagation of the Magnolia Virginiana, or Sweetbay Magnolia, is typically done through rooting of softwood cuttings taken from the tips of the branches. The cuttings should be taken from a healthy plant in late spring or early summer. After taking the cuttings, remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Plant the cuttings in a well-drained potting mix and keep the soil moist. Place the pot in a bright location but out of direct sunlight. Cuttings should root within 3-4 weeks.
Usually, the plant growth rate is between 13 and 24 inches (33-61 cm) per year. However, some young trees have been known to grow as much as 3 feet (91 cm) in a single growing season. Magnolia virginiana is a slow to moderate grower. When young, they may Put on 3-6 feet (91-183 cm) of growth per year, however, once they reach maturity, they may only grow 1-2 feet (30-61 cm) per year.
Common problems for this kind of plant are scale, sooty mold, powdery mildew, and root rot. Scale can be controlled with horticultural oil, while sooty mold and powdery mildew can be controlled with fungicide. Root rot can be controlled with fungicide and by increasing drainage in the area around the plant.
Source:
Magnolia virginiana : Ephemeral courting for millions of years
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Magnolia virginiana - Species Page - ISB: Atlas of Florida Plants
