Magnolia macrophylla

The bigleaf magnolia is noted for its huge oblong-obovate leaves (to 30 inches long) which are the largest simple leaves of any tree indigenous to North America. Leaves are green above and silvery-gray below. They resemble the shape of a paint brush This unusual tree is rarely found in the wild, being limited mainly to a few rich wooded areas in river valleys and ravines in the southeastern United States. It is a pyramidal tree that develops a spreading rounded crown with age, typically growing 30-40’ tall. Showy fragrant flowers are white with rose-purple at the petal bases. Although quite large, the flowers are often located far off the ground and are not always easy to see close up. Flowers give way to spherical cone-like fruits which mature to red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity.

This tree is native, but difficult to use in the landscape due to the large leaves. It grows best in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. It is generally intolerant of soil extremes (dry or wet) and most urban pollutants. It is best if sited in locations protected from strong winds which may shred the large leaves. It may take 12 or more years before the first blooms appear. .

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.