Magnolia tripetala
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah try-PET-ah-lah
- Description
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Native magnolia with 10-24 in. leaves clustered at end of stems. Tolerates close to full shade, but will grow in full sun, particularly in the northern climates as long as soils are kept moist. Generally intolerant of soil extremes (dry or wet), and should be planted in areas protected from strong winds to prevent damage to the leaves.
Magnolia tripetala's large leaves appear in whorl-like clusters at the stem tips resembling the spokes of an umbrella. This is an understory tree native to rich moist woods, ravines, slopes and along streams in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains into South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. It is a small, often multi-trunked, tree that typically grows to 30' tall, but may grow to 45' tall. Unpleasantly scented bowl-shaped, creamy white 6-10" flowers bloom in Spring. Each flower has 6 or up to 12 petal-like tepals, which are followed by cone-like pink 4" fruits that ripen in fall. Gray bark is thin and smooth.
- 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
- Species:
- tripetala
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A. to Oklahoma
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is a food source for birds and mammals.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit type is an aggregate of follicles. It displays from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white flowers bloom from April to May. Flowers have an unpleasant odor.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large leaves (up to 24" long and 10" wide) are clustered at end of stems, near the bud. Like Bigleaf Magnolia the bud is also a light green color that resembles a paint brush.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
