Sweet bay is a very adaptable plant. Unlike most magnolias, it will grow in Wet, even Swampy Soil . It also tolerates Shade . Most magnolias need full sun to flower, but not sweet bay. Magnolias have very large leaves.
Large leaves tend to lend a tropical feeling to the landscape.
Sweet bay's long blooming time and bright red seed heads further accentuate the plant s lush tropical appearance. My sweet bays are just babies now, about four feet tall and rather thin. However, I won t have to wait terribly long for them to become more prominent. They will grow more than a foot a year, producing more flowers and seeds each year. All magnolias have fuzzy branches and frequently the underside of the leaves are fuzzy too.