Gordonia lasianthus

loblolly-bay

Theaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

40-65(80) ft, conical canopy narrower than the tree is tall.  Trunk up to 1.5 ft dbh.

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms spring-summer. Often has some red leaves in fall. May live 100 yrs (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Makes a good specimen tree or a cluster of in wet areas along margins of lakes and ponds.



This tree is columnar in form and can make a formal-looking plant near an entryway.

Considerations:

Sensitive to drying. Difficult to grow unless its moisture requirements are met.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Stays wet ---- to ---- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Hummingbirds

Flowers attract a variety of insects including bees and flies. 

Attracts hummingbirds.

Native Habitats:

Moist-wet sites. Seepage swamps, bay swamps, edges of cypress domes, low flatwoods. This species is likely restricted to wetland edges both by its need for high soil moisture and due to lack of tolerance of fire.