Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Southern Magnolia:
Previously known as:
- Magnolia angustifolia
- Magnolia elliptica
- Magnolia foetida
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah gran-dih-FLOR-ah
- Description
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Southern magnolia, is a large, broadleaf evergreen tree that is noted for its attractive glossy dark green leaves and its large, extremely fragrant flowers. It is native to the bottomlands and moist wooded areas in the central and southeastern coastal plains from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. It typically grows to 60 to 80 feet tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown, a spread of 20 to 40 feet wide, and a trunk diameter of 3 feet. It is a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). The species epithet is Latin for "large flowered."
This is a magnificent tree for planting as a specimen in the South in large yards, parks, or commercial sites. Be sure to provide plenty of space to grow. Lower branches tend to reach the ground and can be pruned out to appear more tree-like. Nothing will grow underneath the tree, and it requires a mulch to prevent erosion problems.
Giant fragrant white flowers are borne in the summer months and are extremely ornamental. The woody brown fruits with bright red seeds are used in dried arrangments.
It prefers rich soil with partial shade and, in nature, is usually an understory tree. However, when grown as an ornamental, it maintains heavily leaved limbs almost to the ground. Tolerates high moisture levels, but is intolerant to overly wet or swampy soils and prolonged flooding.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Scale is an occasional pest problem. Leaf drop in both fall and spring. Leaves can be chopped with a rotary mower and blown back under the branches to recycle nutrients. A frequent escapee from cultivation. In many suburban yards, the mature size of this tree is way too large, consider a smaller cultivar.
Quick ID Hints:
- Stiff, leathery, laurel-like leaves
- Giant white flowers appear in the summer
- Leaves are rusty-brown and tomentose below
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Hydrangeas in the Garden Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alta'
- 'Blanchard'
Straight trunk; grows to 75 feet high. - 'Brackens Brown Beauty'
Winter hardy to zone 6. Compact with smaller leaves. - 'Claudia Wannamaker'
- 'Edith Bogue'
Winter hardy. - 'Greenback'
- 'Miss Chloe'
- 'Teddy Bear'
semi-dwarf, leave resemble teddy bear ears
semi-dwarf, 19'-30' tall 'Little Gem'
semi-dwarf but can still get 30' - 'Alta'
- 'Alta', 'Blanchard', 'Brackens Brown Beauty', 'Claudia Wannamaker', 'Edith Bogue', 'Greenback', 'Kay Parris', 'Little Gem', 'Miss Chloe', 'Teddy Bear'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alta'
- 'Blanchard'
Straight trunk; grows to 75 feet high. - 'Brackens Brown Beauty'
Winter hardy to zone 6. Compact with smaller leaves. - 'Claudia Wannamaker'
- 'Edith Bogue'
Winter hardy. - 'Greenback'
- 'Miss Chloe'
- 'Teddy Bear'
semi-dwarf, leave resemble teddy bear ears
semi-dwarf, 19'-30' tall 'Little Gem'
semi-dwarf but can still get 30' - 'Alta'
- 'Alta', 'Blanchard', 'Brackens Brown Beauty', 'Claudia Wannamaker', 'Edith Bogue', 'Greenback', 'Kay Parris', 'Little Gem', 'Miss Chloe', 'Teddy Bear'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- grandiflora
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It was traditionally used medicinally to treat circulatory system disorders. The leaves, fruits, bark and wood yield variety of extracts with potential applications of pharmaceuticals. The wood is light, soft, and tan-colored with indistinct grain. It is used commercially for veneer, furniture parts, paper pulp, and flake and chip boards.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- Maryland south west to Texas southeast to Florida.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides winter and severe weather cover. Its seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- The Southern magnolia is moderately resistant to deer damage, and is highly salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers give way to spherical cone-like fruiting clusters that are an aggregate of follicles (to 3-5” long) and mature from September to October, releasing individual rose-red coated seeds suspended on slender red threads at maturity. Fruits are rusty-tomentose.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The Southern Magnolia has fragrant creamy white flowers (8 to 12 inches in diameter) that are usually composed of six to twelve petals. The flowers bloom in late spring, with sparse continued flowering throughout the summer. Flowers are solitary, axillary, scattered on the plant, and have a perianth (6 inches long) of 9-15 members. Flowers bloom from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Southern Magnolia has 5-10 alternate, simple, persistent, leathery evergreen ovate to elliptic leaves (5 to 10 inches long). They are glossy dark green above and variable pale green to gray-brown beneath. It has felt-like fuzz and rusty-brown tomentose on back of its leaves. Leaves are stiffly coriaceous, acute, cuneate, and entire.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Patchy
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is brown to grey and smooth when young. As the tree ages, close plates or scales develop.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Branches are borne to ground level and are spreading.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
- Salt
- Storm damage
- Urban Conditions
- Wet Soil
- Wind
- Problems:
- Messy
- Weedy
