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Magnolia tripetala is often confused with:
Magnolia fraseri Magnolia fraseri
Magnolia macrophylla Magnolia macrophylla
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Magnolia acuminata Form
Menispermum canadense Menispermum canadense
Vaccinium arboreum Form in bloom
Magnolia tripetala has some common insect problems:
Magnolia Scale
Yellow Poplar Weevil
Magnolia tripetala has some common disease problems:
Sooty Molds

Magnolia tripetala

Phonetic Spelling
mag-NO-lee-ah try-PET-ah-lah
Description

Native magnolia with 10-24 in. leaves clustered at end of stems.  Tolerates close to full shade, but will grow in full sun, particularly in the northern climates as long as soils are kept moist.  Generally intolerant of soil extremes (dry or wet), and should be planted in areas protected from strong winds to prevent damage to the leaves.  

Magnolia tripetala's large leaves appear in whorl-like clusters at the stem tips resembling the spokes of an umbrella. This is an understory tree native to rich moist woods, ravines, slopes and along streams in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains into South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. It is a small, often multi-trunked, tree that typically grows to 30' tall, but may grow to 45' tall. Unpleasantly scented bowl-shaped, creamy white 6-10" flowers bloom in Spring. Each flower has 6 or up to 12 petal-like tepals, which are followed by cone-like pink 4" fruits that ripen in fall.  Gray bark is thin and smooth.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#NC native#Braham Arboretum#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#NC native#Braham Arboretum#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Magnolia
    Species:
    tripetala
    Family:
    Magnoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern U.S.A. to Oklahoma
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant is a food source for birds and mammals.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Aggregate
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit type is an aggregate of follicles. It displays from July to October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Creamy white flowers bloom from April to May. Flowers have an unpleasant odor.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Large leaves (up to 24" long and 10" wide) are clustered at end of stems, near the bud. Like Bigleaf Magnolia the bud is also a light green color that resembles a paint brush.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds