Loblolly bay
Gordonia lasianthus
Theaceae


Landscape Uses:

Accent or specimen tree in wet locations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available at Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth (561-641-9488).
Description:
Medium to large tree.
Height:
Typically 25-50 feet; to 95 feet in Florida.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Mississippi and south to Palm Beach, Glades and Sarasota counties.
Habitats:
Swamps.
Soils:
Wet to moist, seasonally inundated organic soils, acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
White
Flower Characteristics:
Showy; fragrant
Flowering Season:
Summer
Fruit:
Ovoid capsule, splitting open at maturity.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides moderate amounts of food and significant cover for wildlife.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Chuck McCartney
Keith A. Bradley
Keith A. Bradley
Keith A. Bradley
Keith A. Bradley