North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Theaceae > Gordonia (loblolly bay)

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Common in the NC coastal plain in pocosins, swamps, bays, and other moist, acidic soil habitats.

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Leaves have blunt serrations on the apical halves, lack pubescence, and lack fragrant aroma when crushed.

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Gordonia may be a large tree but often takes on shrubby form. Large white attractive flowers are sporadic from summer into fall.

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Typically cone-shaped and pointed at the top in outline, Gordonia may be identified from a good distance.

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Much less commonly one finds some that are rounded in shape.

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Pender Co., NC
13 Sep 2009

Bark is medium brown-gray and eventuall develop deep fissures in old trees.



Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com