Magnolia Mercury™ 'NCMX1'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NOL-ee-ah
- Description
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This tree has a refined upright form reaching 40’ – 80’ in height and 30’ – 40’ in width. Trees will become very large over time and should be planted in areas where they can expand as the roots often reach well beyond the leaf canopy. Heavy leaf residue, containing allelochemicals, interferes with the establishment of plants underneath the tree.
Magnolia Mercury™ is a unique and exceptional late-blooming (often a month after typical M. soulangeana, thereby avoiding late spring frosts) magnolia tree with huge fragrant flowers that is ideal for use as a street or specimen tree. The best display is in summer when Mercury’s huge flowers put on a visual display and teases the nose with a delightful fragrance. But the tree stays green and provides a bit of color pick-me-up in the winter
Plant in full sun for best flower display with moist, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It can survive in shade, but has low drought tolerance. It cannot survive in flooded conditions, but can tolerate high moisture levels and soil salinity. It is winter hardy, tolerates air pollution, and is hurricane/storm-resistant.
Developed as a collaborative project by NC State University, J. Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery, and the late Dr. August Kehr. U.S. Plant Patent Applied for (PPAF).
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Summer Foliage: Winter, evergreen
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The long-lasting leaves have been in holiday flower arrangements. A variety of extracts taken from leaves, fruits, bark and wood have been used in pharmaceutical applications.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds, which are high in fat, are a good energy source for migratory birds, squirrel, opossum, quail, turkey, mice & chipmunks. Pollinators, especially beetles, are attracted to the pollen which is high in protein.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- It is notable that magnolias are deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- 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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Aggregate of dry, cylindrical, hairy, 3 – 5 inch-long carpels that turn red/red-brown with age. Each follicle contains one long bright red seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Huge (up to 12"), showy, fragrant flowers that are red in bud and opening to bright lavender pink.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate and oval to elliptical. Pinnate venation. Very thick and leathery without teeth. A smooth, shiny intense green surface above and a fuzzy, cinnamon brown color below. Each leaf can remain on the tree for up to 2 years.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Pollution
- Salt
- Storm damage
- Wet Soil
