Sweetbay magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Family: Magnoliaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA species entry for Magnolia virginiana was found (searches for sweetbay magnolia, sweet bay, magnolia and southern magnolia found no species page). ASPCA lists some other magnolias under their own names (for example star magnolia as 'Magnolia Bush'); that was not carried over to this species. NC State shows no poison line or pet tag for sweetbay. no listing means not found, not safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Magnolia virginiana, not on the common name.. Sweetbay is not bay laurel. ASPCA lists Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses; sweetbay magnolia is an unrelated plant with similar names (NC State also lists 'Sweet Bay' and 'White Laurel'). UF/IFAS also warns that sweetbay magnolia and swamp bay (Persea palustris) can look alike and grow on similar sites; the magnolia's twig has a stipule scar that encircles the twig. UF/IFAS lists 'swamp bay' as a name for the magnolia in central Florida and 'red bay' (Persea borbonia) as a different tree.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 5a to 10b per NC State (NC State: winter damage can occur in zone 6 and upper zone 5); Georgia: 7, 8 per UGA; South Carolina: Clemson says adapted to all areas of the state
Water needs: high
Mature size: NC State: 10 to 35 ft tall and wide (up to 100 ft in the Deep South); fast growth rate in its table, text says 'typically 10 to 35 ft'. Clemson (South Carolina): 40 to 50 ft tall, 15 to 25 ft wide, moderate growth. UGA (Georgia): 15 to 20 ft tall, 10 to 20 ft spread, slow growth.
Where it comes from: NC State: native in AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA and Cuba (eastern U.S. to Texas and Cuba); coastal areas of the southeast and north along the Atlantic coast to New York; open woodlands, shaded woods, swamps.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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