Sweet Thing Magnolia

Sweet Thing Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana var. australis 'Perry Paige')

Sweet Thing Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana var. australis 'Perry Paige'), is a broadleaf evergreen to semi-evergreen magnolia valued for glossy foliage and creamy white, fragrant flowers that can appear from late spring into summer. It brings a lighter, breezier magnolia look than the classic southern magnolia types, with leaves that often show a silvery underside that flashes in the wind and softens the canopy. The bloom season can stretch for weeks, adding a fresh, citrusy fragrance near patios, walkways, and open windows. With its reliable structure and longer flowering window, Sweet Thing Magnolia makes a strong focal point for residential landscapes, especially where you want magnolia beauty without the heavy, oversized feel.

Distinctive Features

The flowers are creamy white, cup-shaped, and pleasantly fragrant, often opening over an extended period rather than all at once. Foliage is rich green with a pale, silvery underside that gives the plant a luminous, two-tone effect and adds movement even when it is not in bloom. As a variety tied to the southern form of sweetbay magnolia, it can hold more foliage in winter in mild climates, giving it added year-round value as a screen or specimen. Decorative seed pods may form in fall and can add subtle interest as they mature and reveal red seeds.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade; best flowering and fullness in full sun, with part shade helpful in hotter sites.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained to consistently moist soil; tolerates heavier soils and periodic wetness better than many magnolias.
• Water: Moderate to regular; prefers consistent moisture, especially during establishment and summer heat.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10.
• Habit: Small to medium tree with a rounded to softly pyramidal habit; evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on winter temperatures.
• Mature Size: About 20 to 30 feet tall and 12 to 20 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant where summer flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed from a patio, porch, or main garden view.
• Fragrant Garden Feature: Place near walkways and outdoor living spaces to catch the scent during bloom season.
• Evergreen Screening: Use as a softer, more refined screen that can hold foliage well in mild winters.
• Woodland Edge Accent: Works well in lightly shaded edges where the foliage texture looks natural and layered.
• Moist Area Planting: A strong choice for consistently moist sites, including low areas that stay damp but not stagnant.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply and regularly in the first one to two seasons; maintain moisture during drought to support flowering and leaf quality.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and protect roots, keeping mulch off the trunk.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer if growth is slow; avoid overfertilizing.
• Pruning: Minimal pruning needed; remove dead or crossing branches after flowering, and avoid heavy pruning.
• Winter Character: In cooler areas it may drop more leaves; in milder winters it can stay greener and more evergreen, especially in protected sites.

Why Choose Sweet Thing Magnolia?

• Extended Summer Bloom: Flowers later than many magnolias and can continue into summer for longer seasonal interest.
• Fragrant White Flowers: Creamy blooms add a fresh scent and a refined magnolia look near living spaces.
• Glossy, Two-Tone Foliage: Green leaves with silvery undersides add movement and brightness through the growing season.
• Evergreen to Semi-Evergreen Value: Can hold foliage well in mild winters, offering more year-round structure.
• Moist-Soil Adaptability: Tolerates consistently moist conditions better than many ornamental trees.

If you want a sweetbay magnolia that offers fragrance, a long bloom window, and a softer evergreen presence in the right climate, Sweet Thing Magnolia delivers dependable structure and focal point appeal from late spring through summer.