Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Sweetbay magnolia is a small, multi-stemmed tree with leaves that shimmer in a breeze due to silvery leaf undersides. Cone-like fruits with bright red seeds mature in fall and can be showy. Fragrant creamy white flowers, which appear in summer, are succeeded by attractive red fruits. Sweetbay magnolia thrives in full sun or partial shade and is a useful ornamental tree for smaller spaces on moist acid soils.