Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah ah-kew-min-AY-tah
- Description
-
Cucumber Tree is a native deciduous tree found in eastern North America and is found in the foothills and Appalachian Mountains of NC. The tree is found naturally in subxeric forests (especially over rock) and in moist to dry slopes. It will grow 60-80 feet tall with a pyramidal crown and a straight trunk. The trunk diameter can reach 3-4 feet.
This is a deciduous magnolia that produces 2-4 inch slightly-fragrant, greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers at the twig tips in late spring, but is named for the green, warty, cucumber-shaped fruits that follow the flowers. The leaves have nice yellow-gold fall color. Cone-like fruits mature to a showy red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity.
This plant tolerates a wide range of pH and prefers moist well-drained soil with organic matter in full sun to partial shade. It is sensitive to heat and drought, and has a low soil compaction tolerance.
These trees cast dense shade, and are beautifully symmetrical making them a park, residential and golf course tree of preference.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Magnolia scale is a potential problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Butterflies'
Large yellow flowers - 'Elizabeth'
Very cold hardy with yellow flowers before leaf-out - 'Ellen'
Variegated leaves - var. subcordata
Shorter and shrubbier with yellow flowers - 'Yellow Fever'
- 'Butterflies'
- 'Butterflies', 'Elizabeth', 'Ellen', var. subcordata, 'Yellow Fever'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Butterflies'
Large yellow flowers - 'Elizabeth'
Very cold hardy with yellow flowers before leaf-out - 'Ellen'
Variegated leaves - var. subcordata
Shorter and shrubbier with yellow flowers - 'Yellow Fever'
- 'Butterflies'
- 'Butterflies', 'Elizabeth', 'Ellen', var. subcordata, 'Yellow Fever'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- acuminata
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Early Americans once used immature Cucumber tree fruit to flavor whiskey.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ontario to East Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Twigs and buds are browsed by white-tailed deer. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire damage. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Bulb Storage:
- Found as far north as southern Ontario and New York, south to Florida across to Louisiana, west to Oklahoma and Missouri.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a 2-3 inch long aggregate of follicles in a cone shape that is green turning to red when young and matures to brown. Individual red-coated seeds are suspended on slender threads at maturity. Persists.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are slightly-fragrant, greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers (2-4” long) at the twig tips in late spring. Flowers bloom April-June. Often hidden by the foliage.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are simple, alternate, oblong to oval with smooth and often wavy margins. They are 6-10 inches long and 3-6 inches wide, shiny yellow-green on the upper side and paler below with hairs, pointed tips and pinnate venation. Unlike most magnolias, this one has a respectable yellow fall color.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Furrowed dark gray-brown soft bark. Easily damaged by lawn equipment.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Heart or shield shaped
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown stems with vertical gray lenticels have a spicy scent when bruised.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
