Mountain Magnolia Magnolia fraseri
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah frah-SER-ee
- Description
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Magnolia fraseri, or Fraser Magnolia, is a small flowering tree, 30 to 40 feet high (sometimes reaching 70 feet), with a trunk diameter of 1 to 1 1/2 feet. Often branched near the base, it has an open crown of spreading branches, large leaves, and very large flowers. It prefers moist, cool and fertile soils of mesic sites and is found mostly on the lower third of mountainous slopes and gorges. In North Carolina, it is typically found in rich coves and slopes of the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 2000 to 4000 feet. Many Fraser Magnolias can be seen while driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it is fairly common in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is usually less hardy than other magnolia species.
This species is named after John Fraser (1750-1811), a Scottish botanist who introduced many North American plants to Europe. This tree grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soil. Of scattered distribution, it is planted as an ornamental for the large flowers and coarse foliage. The leaves are long, more than 12 inches, and in the fall, turn quickly from green, to yellow, then brown. These trees usually have more than one trunk and, like most other Magnolias, the bark of the Fraser Magnolia is somewhat smooth, but covered with warty lenticels. It is an important food source for wildlife and the fruits attract birds.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or disease issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- fraseri
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is light, weak, and easily worked. Used for lumber or pulpwood, but usually in places where there are no alternatives.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West Virginia to Texas
- Distribution:
- Found in a relatively small strip of the eastern US along the Appalachian Mountains from West Virginia south to the northern tip of Georgia.
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruit attracts birds and small mammals. The fruit is eaten by wildlife, helping disperse the seeds.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Orange
- Pink
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is cucumber-shaped, oblong, 4 to 5 inches long, cone-like aggregate of fleshy seeded follicles. Once mature, the red drupe-like seeds are contained in a carpal, or cell. It displays from July to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Ten to twelve inch, sweetly fragrant, creamy white to pale yellow, perfect flowers (that is, stamen and pistal are in the same flower). Bloom from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Subulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Ten to twelve inch long leaves are oblong, narrow at the lower end with ear-like lobes at the base (auriculate).
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Bark is smooth and grayish brown with some warty lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Description:
- Branched near the base. Terminal winter buds are smooth, purple, and 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Flower stalks stout, up to 1 1/2 inches long, glaucous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
