LOBLOLLY BAY (Gordonia lasianthus)

Nice little story and a good image of a new plant genus to me so thanks for that. It does look like a single flowered species Camellia such as Camellia thea, which, as you have already said is in the same family.

This is in the same family as the Gardenia right? Now if I remember correctly this particular one doesn't have a long life. Just how long would you say they live?

KC, I've been in this spot by the swamp for about 15 years, haven't noticed any dead ones, although I haven't seen any big ones, either. Without scientific study, I suspect that the tree doesn't grow really fast. They sure are pretty when they all go to blooming, and the leaves are always slick and green. The Bay trees stand on the east side of my home, in sort of a tangle. I am not sure I could have come through last years hurricanes without them blocking the wind. You really started me digging through memory, and I really can't recall any dead Loblolly Bay trees.
Mine are slender and whippy, and the NE wind molds them into sort of a big spongy tangle. I have some big old Loblolly Pines that grow up through them, big enough to have been masts on a ship in the old days. On most of the east side of my land, you can take a joint of PVC pipe, and just push it down 8 or 10 feet in the peat. I don't know how the pines stand up in that stuff. I was back there one day, turned around, and a big alligator snapping turtlle just came out of what looked like dry ground, took a look at me, and just faded back into it. It is sort of dry land, sort of wet land, all at once. Being from Myrtle Beach, I think you know what I mean. Walking back there is like walking on feather filled pillows.

This is great information. I've got this one spot in my yard, which by the way sounds very similar to yours with plenty of 50' loblolly pines bordering the creek that backs up my yard. Anyway, I've got this one spot in front of my kitchen window that is just wetter than most trees/bushes can tolerate. Already lost a dogwood . This might be my answer. Thanks so much tsiya. :up:

Sweet gum might work, grows faster, if you want shade. Southern Red Maples don't seem to mind wet feet either, at least mine don't. I planted a Sycamore, the poor baby drowned before it got started good. I don't know about Southern Red Cedar up your way, but mine handle the wet ground just fine. Near the coast, the Cedar will grow all twisted and gnarly, from the wind. Inland ,like where I am, they grow taller and straighter.
The blooms on the Bay trees don't last long, but sure are nice while they do.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/