In a Nutshell:
* Sweet bay magnolia is native to the southeastern United States north along the Atlantic coast to New York.
* Features cup-shaped, sweetly fragrant (lemony), 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers (2-3" diameter) which appear in mid-spring and sometimes continue sporadically throughout the summer.
* Cone-like fruits with bright red seeds mature in fall and can be showy. more...
* The leaves are used as a condiment in gravies etc.
* A tea is made from the leaves.
* The leaves or bark have been placed in cupped hands over the nose and inhaled as a mild hallucinogen. more...
* Dirr describes this as a really beautiful plant.
* It needs acid soil and doesn't mind wet or shade. more...
* It was the first magnolia to be scientifically described, and is the type species of the genus Magnolia , as Magnolia is also the type genus of all flowering plants , this species can be seen to typify all flowering plants.
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