Sweetbay Magnolia, Silver Bay, Swamp Bay 'Henry Hicks'

This form has survived -24°F unhurt. It remains evergreen down to about -17°F (Dirr) It grows more tree-like than other forms. The orig...Read Moreinal plant was a gift to the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore
College.

Magnolia virginiana "Henry Hicks" is a great plant and we are starting to see more of them in the nurseries. It is evergreen and more tr...Read Moreee-like than the typical northern Magnolia virginiana and is thus believed to have been derived from the australis (southern) subspecies, which also has these characteristics.

The foliage is less dense than a Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and so it does not completely shade plants or lawn growing beneath it. For this reason, it also drops less leaves and makes less mess than a Magnolia grandiflora. Even though "Henry Hicks" is larger than the northern Magnolia virginiana, it is still not as large as a typical Magnolia grandiflora so it may fit better in a small garden. "Henry Hicks" may lose some or most foliage it's first winter in the ground but it becomes progressively more evergreen as it gets established.

I have noticed that "Henry Hicks" seems to have narrower leaves than some of the other cultivars of Magnolia virginiana - but otherwise, it is indistinguishable from typical Sweetbay Magnolias - except in winter, when it stays green!