Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia

The Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana ‘Jim Wilson’) is a medium-sized, flowering semi-evergreen tree. It has a compact upright form made up of bright green leaves with silvery undersides that stay on the tree throughout the winter (though this varies in more northern climates). The bloom of flowers is a sight to see with large, delicate cup-like flowers emerging in early summer and giving off a lemon-like fragrance. Their color is a creamy white. This is also quite the vigorous grower.

The Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia was introduced by Earl Cully of Heritage Trees Inc. in Jacksonville, Illinois. The cultivar is named after Jim Wilson, the long-time host of PBS’s Victory Garden show. It is known for being a more upright vigorous grower, semi-evergreen, and more cold hardy. The foliage stays on the tree throughout the year in most climates but will drop all or some of its leaves when used in its more northern range.  

This tree is great for bigger garden landscapes, yards, or parks. It can stand alone as a specimen due to its charming display of flowers and shiny leaves that glimmer in the sun in the summer and provide some green in the landscape in the winter. It does best in full to partial sun but flowers will look better in full sun. Prefers moist, well-drained soils but established trees will tolerate a range of soils as long as they are well-drained.