Trees
Magnolia virginiana var. australis 'Mardi Gras'
Mardi Gras sweetbay magnolia
Also known as: Mardis Gras
Mardi Gras is a variegated sweetbay magnolia with deep green leaf centers and conspicuous golden margins. Fragrant creamy-white flowers appear in June, while the semi-evergreen foliage supplies the longer display. A position sheltered from drying winds helps preserve the leaves and their coloring through the colder part of the year.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Size
- Height: About 15 ft · Width: 5–8 ft (UT Gardens Jackson cultivar estimate)
- Water
- Consistently moist to wet soil
- Hardiness
- USDA 5
- Bloom
- Fragrant creamy-white, June
Sizes & prices
- #5$124.99
- #7$149.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Landscape use & tree form
- Use
- Ornamental specimen
- Fruit / litter
- Cone-like fruits open to show red seeds; fruit and seasonal leaves fall.
- Major issues
- Chlorosis in alkaline soil; occasional scale and leaf spots.
- Growth rate
- Species guidance: rapid; cultivar and growing conditions may differ.
- Form
- Upright small tree or large shrub.
Resistance & tolerances
- Deer
- Parent-species guidance: Some browsing resistance; not deer-proof. Protect young plants.
- Drought
- Generally drought sensitive; irrigate dry spells even though established plants show some adaptability.
- Wet soil
- Sweetbay tolerates consistently wet and swampy soil; keep the root zone moist in dry spells.
Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Caterpillar host
- Swallowtail
- Evidence
- Species-level guidance; cultivar habitat value varies.
Native range
- Native range / parentage
- Cultivar/selection of a species native to eastern United States to Cuba.
Seasonal interest
- Foliage
- Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Growing & care
- Siting
- Shelter from drying winds and open exposure.
- Pruning
- Usually needs little pruning. For deciduous trees, make necessary shaping cuts in summer; avoid major winter or early-spring cuts.
- Soil
- Consistently moist to wet, acidic, organic-rich soil; alkaline soil may cause chlorosis.
Sources & photo credits
University of Minnesota Extension
Photo: John Grimshaw / Trees and Shrubs Online, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized for web without enlargement. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Image notes: Mardi Gras ('Mattie Mae Smith') sweetbay magnolia foliage, Carolina Nursery, Charleston, South Carolina, September 2008. Photo: John Grimshaw / Trees and Shrubs Online, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized for web without enlargement.
Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.