{"product_id":"magnolia-virginiana-sweet-bay-magnolia-qt","title":"Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay Magnolia) - QT","description":"Sweetbay Magnolia is an ancient understory tree that is native to the Southeastern United States. It has lustrous, leathery dark green leaves with silvery undersides that are deciduous to semi-evergreen. The creamy white flowers bloom from the end of May into June with a lemony-sweet fragrance that shouldn’t be missed, and continue to bloom sporadically until September. They are pollinated by beetles and followed by an aggregate fruit of follicles with bright red exposed seeds. The seeds are covered in a fleshy, high fat exterior that provides food for many small mammals and birds, especially those seeking high-energy food sources for southern migration. The foliage of Magnolia spp. hosts at least 21 species* of Lepidoptera, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.\u003cbr\u003eSweetbay Magnolias prefer moist, acidic soils. They will not thrive in high pH soil and need a steady supply of water throughout the growing season. They make beautiful understory specimen trees, especially gracefully overhanging patios or for foundation plantings. They can be used in shrub borders and on the woodland margins. The roots are fleshy and not wide-spreading, allowing for successful underplanting of ferns and wildflowers which will thrive under the thin, filtered canopy.\u003cbr\u003eSources:\u003cbr\u003eNative Trees, Shrubs, \u0026amp; Vines by William Cullina\u003cbr\u003eManual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr\u003cbr\u003e*Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman \u0026amp; Bernard L. Schwartz\u003cbr\u003eEastern\/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke\u003cbr\u003eMissouri Botanical Garden\u003cbr\u003eLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center\u003cbr\u003eMt Cuba Center","brand":"Scioto Gardens Native Plant Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48078463467761,"sku":"MagVirProdQT","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0787\/7092\/9905\/files\/0a8ba660-35df-4cdd-979c-90773fa5b612_aad6cf66-26c4-4125-a253-1c9d101dbc4e.jpg?v=1776971310","url":"https:\/\/scioto-gardens-native-plant-nursery.myshopify.com\/products\/magnolia-virginiana-sweet-bay-magnolia-qt","provider":"Scioto Gardens Native Plant Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}