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Magnolia macrophylla is often confused with:
Magnolia acuminata Form
Magnolia ashei Large solitary many-petaled flower
Magnolia fraseri Large white flower with many tepals.
Magnolia tripetala Magnolia tripetala
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Halesia carolina Full Form
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Ulmus alata Ulmus alata
Magnolia macrophylla has some common insect problems:
Magnolia Scale
Yellow Poplar Weevil
Magnolia macrophylla has some common disease problems:
Sooty Molds

Bigleaf Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla

Previously known as:

  • Magnolia michauxiana
  • Metamagnolia macrophylla
Phonetic Spelling
mag-NO-li-a mak-ro-FIL-la
Description

The bigleaf magnolia has the largest simple leaves and largest flowers of any tree indigenous to North America.  It is a rare, native, deciduous, pyramidal tree with a single trunk and develops a spreading, broad, rounded crown with age, and grows 30 to 40 feet tall and equally as wide. It may be semi-evergreen in the deep south. The huge oblong-obovate leaves measure up to 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. The leaves are green above and silvery-gray and pubescent below. Showy fragrant flowers are creamy-white with rose-purple at the petal bases, and measure 8 to 14 inches in diameter. Although quite large, the flowers are often located far off the ground and are not always easy to see close up. The 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 unusual tree is native to the southeastern United States and is rarely found in the wild, being limited mainly to a few rich wooded areas in river valleys and ravines. Their populations are usually small and isolated. 

The Bigleaf Magnolia was named by Andre Michaux, a French naturalist, and explorer. He discovered this tree in 1789 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Another resource states that the tree was first discovered in Moblie, Alabama around 1775 by William Bartram, a naturalist.

The genus name, Magnolia, honors Pierre Magnol, a French botanist from the 17th century. The specific epithet, macrophylla, is derived from two Greek words. Macro means large, and phyllon means leaf, and they reference the huge leaves of this tree. This tree produces the largest leaves and flowers of the Magnolia genus.

This tree is native, but difficult to use in the landscape due to its large leaves. It grows best in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams with acidic or neutral soil, and in full sun to partial shade. It is generally intolerant of dry and wet soils and urban pollutants. It is best 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.

Plant the bigleaf magnolia in an area in which it can meet its full potential. It is very attractive in lawns, but it should be planted so that it may be protected from urban pollutants and strong winds.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring or Early Summer    Foliage:  Spring and Summer       Fruits:  Late Summer and Fall

Quick ID Hints:

  • deciduous to semi-evergreen, 30 to 40 feet tall and wide, pyramidal to broad, rounded crown
  • large green leaves with silvery pubescent undersides, measuring 3 feet long and 1 foot wide
  • fragrant, large, 8 to 14-inches in diameter, creamy-white flowers with 6 to 9 tepals, the inner tepals are purple at the base
  • cone-like, pubescent fruits that are red when mature and have red-coated seeds

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree has no serious insect or disease problems. It is best to plant this tree in a protected location to preserve the leaves. Strong winds can tear the leaves and make the tree less attractive. They are usually low maintenance except in the fall when the leaf drop.

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Native Woodland Garden, Durham Native Plant Demonstration Garden All Saints' Episcopal Church
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Palmberg'
    very large flowers
  • 'Purple Spotted'
    flowers with purple markings in the center
'Palmberg', 'Purple Spotted'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#specimen#white flowers#slow growing#native tree#low maintenance#flowering tree#lawn tree#NC native#red fruits#large flowers#Braham Arboretum#dendrology#FACU#Audubon#wind damage prone#drought intolerant#wet soils intolerant#urban conditions intolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Palmberg'
    very large flowers
  • 'Purple Spotted'
    flowers with purple markings in the center
'Palmberg', 'Purple Spotted'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#specimen#white flowers#slow growing#native tree#low maintenance#flowering tree#lawn tree#NC native#red fruits#large flowers#Braham Arboretum#dendrology#FACU#Audubon#wind damage prone#drought intolerant#wet soils intolerant#urban conditions intolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Magnolia
    Species:
    macrophylla
    Family:
    Magnoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Caribbean, Mexico, southeastern United States, NC
    Distribution:
    Native: United States--AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, and VA. Introduced: United States--IL MD, NY, PA; Canada--Ontario
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to flowers. Birds and small mammals eat the red seeds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Fragrance
    Shade
    Textural
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    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:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The flowers are followed by oval, hairy, green, cone-like fruits that measure 2 to 3 inches long and become red when they mature in late summer. The fruits open and reveal red-coated seeds that appear suspended on slender threads.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are large and measure 8 to 14 inches in diameter. They are creamy-white, fragrant, cup-shaped flowers, and have 6 to 9 tepals. The inner tepals are purple at the base. They bloom from May to June.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Rough
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are deciduous, extremely large, and measure 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. They are alternate, green, smooth on the upper surface, and silvery-white and pubescent on the undersides. Their shape is oblong to obovate, and the base is heart-shaped. The margins are entire and wavy. They produce leaf scares below the bud.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Patchy
    Bark Description:
    The bark is thin, smooth, grayish-brown, and may have small plate-like patches.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The stems are stout and brown or green. They have a large leaf scare. The stipule scar goes around the stem. The bud is large and covered with a silvery hairs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds