Loblolly bay

Pictured above: Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus) by Keith Bradley. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

Loblolly bay is an attractive evergreen tree found in swamps, bayheads and cypress domes throughout much of Florida. Its fragrant showy flowers bloom spring through summer and attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, flies and even the occasional hummingbird. Birds and other small animals find cover in the dense foliage. The tree is often confused with Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), which also has large white flowers and occurs in the same habitat.

One of only two camelias native to Florida, Loblolly bay flowers are similar in appearance to those of the popular non-native ornamentals Camelia japonica and C. sasanqua. The creamy white flowers have five waxy petals with lightly fringed margins. They surround a center of bright yellow stamens. The blooms may be 4–5 inches in diameter. They are pedicellate, solitary and axillary. The simple leaves are glossy, dark green and leathery with bluntly toothed margins. They may be up to 5 inches long. Older leaves turn red in the fall. The trunk is straight with grayish- to reddish-brown bark that becomes furrowed with age. The crown is narrow and conical or cylindrical. Fruit is a woody, ovoid capsule that splits open when ripe.

The genus name Gordonia honors James Gordon (1708–1780), a British nurseryman who specialized in camelias. The species epithet lasianthus is from the Greek lasios, meaning “shaggy, velvety or hairy,” and anthos, meaning “flower.”

Family: Theaceae (Camellia or tea family)
Native range: Panhandle, peninsula south to Sarasota and Palm Beach counties
To see where natural populations of Loblolly bay have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Lifespan: Long-lived perennial
Soil: Moist, wet or seasonally inundated, acidic, sandy or organic soils
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: 30–60’+ tall with 10–15’ spread
Propagation: Seeds (may require stratification), cuttings
Florida regions of landscape suitability: North, Central, South
Garden tips: Loblolly bay’s semi-formal appearance, rich evergreen foliage, large showy flowers, and fall color makes it an excellent ornamental or canopy tree — in the right conditions. It requires consistent moisture and does well on lake or pond edges. It does not tolerate drought, fire or salt. Newly planted specimens may require frequent watering for up to a year. Water established plants during dry periods. Choose planting site carefully as Loblolly bays are averse to root disturbance.

Loblolly bay is often available at nurseries that specialize in Florida native plants. Visit PlantRealFlorida.org to find a native nursery in your area.

Learn more about Loblolly bay from the Florida Native Plant Society and the Institute for Regional Conservation.