Gordonia lasianthus

The Loblolly Bay – A Southern Aristocrat of the Swamp Edge

There are trees that feel as though they were written into the land’s original scripture, and Gordonia lasianthus, the Loblolly Bay, is one such tree—a native evergreen of the Southern coastal plain whose white flowers gleam like prayers unfolding in the heat of high summer.

This noble member of the tea family (Theaceae) shares kinship with the celebrated Camellia and the storied Franklinia alatamaha, that long-lost ghost tree of Georgia's riverbanks. But unlike its mythic cousin, Gordonia lasianthus has remained a quiet and constant presence, thriving in the moist, acidic soils of pinewoods, boggy hollows, and sandy seepage slopes from the Carolinas to the Gulf.

Reaching a stately height in the wild—often 30 to 60 feet—it grows straight and tall with smooth, gray bark and a narrow crown. Its evergreen leaves are glossy and lance-shaped, catching light like bayonets, while its flowers—large, pure white, and golden-throated—open in succession from early summer into August. Each bloom lasts but a day, but their appearance, one after the other, brings a quiet brilliance to the understory when most other native trees have long finished flowering.

First documented by early American botanists exploring the southeastern wilderness, Gordonia lasianthus captured the admiration of William Bartram, who praised its grace and presence in the wet pine savannas of Florida. It remains, even now, a tree of old Southern elegance—an heirloom suited to those willing to provide it with the conditions it quietly demands.

Though it may be particular in cultivation, Gordonia rewards the careful gardener. It prefers well-drained yet moist sandy soils—particularly along seeps or natural woodland slopes. It does not tolerate standing water or poorly drained ground, and in such places, it will languish or perish. But in the right site, it will grow straight and tall, flowering faithfully, and offering a taste of the native grandeur of the Southern wilderness.

🌿 Highlights for Gardeners and Naturalists:

• Native evergreen tree of the Southern coastal plain, from the Carolinas to Florida and the Gulf Coast

• Member of the tea family (Theaceae); close botanical cousin to Camellia and Franklinia

• Features large, showy white flowers (3–4 inches wide) blooming in summer, when few trees flower

• Grows naturally in acidic, sandy, moist soils, often along seepage slopes and pine bogs

• Tree can reach 30–60 feet tall in the wild, with glossy evergreen foliage and smooth gray bark

• Best in well-drained, sandy soil with consistent moisture; not tolerant of heavy or compacted soils

• A historic native species admired by William Bartram and early American naturalists

• Ideal for native woodland gardens, bog margins, and moist, acid-loving landscapes

• Offers seasonal contrast and architectural form year-round—a Southern classic of quiet distinction

Photos courtesy of Will Cook and Scott Zona