Magnolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Champaca
- Manglietia
- Michelia
- Talauma
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah
- Description
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Magnolias are trees or shrubs and are among the most beautiful and popular landscape plants. They are members of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). The genus name honors French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638–1715), director of the Royal Botanic Garden of Montpellier and the first to recognize the modern concept of plant families.
Most prefer fertile, acidic, moist, well-drained soils. They do poorly in basic soils, dry sites or on infertile sand. The larger species do best in full sun, but some of the smaller species can tolerate dappled or partial shade. They can be browsed by deer, so young trees need protection.
At present, more than 360 species of magnolia are known from the Americas, South and Southeast Asia, and Malesia. Some are deciduous, and some are evergreen. Several species are native to North Carolina: the cucumber tree (M. acuminata), Fraser magnolia (M. fraseri), southern magnolia (M. grandiflora), big leaf magnolia (M. macrophylla), umbrella magnolia (M. tripetala) and sweet bay (M. virginiana). Many hybrid magnolias have been developed to provide a wider range of sizes, shapes and floral characteristics. They can range anywhere from 8 to 40 feet tall. The flowers are fragrant pink, purple, white or yellow saucer-shaped flowers usually in spring.
There is a magnolia for every garden, provided the garden is large enough. Magnolias can be grown for their glossy, evergreen leaves (M. grandifora), their colorful flowers (M. x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird', their fragrant flowers (M. figo) or for pollinators and wildlife (M. virginiana). Use them as a flowering tree, in the shrub border or as specimens.
Disease, pests, and problems: Magnolia scale, Verticillium wilt, chlorosis in high pH soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Ann'
- 'Elizabeth'
- 'Goldfinch'
Hybrid with Light yellow flowers - 'Gresham'
Saucer Magnolia hybrid
'Jane'
- 'Susan'
'Genie'
Magnolia acuminata
Magnolia ashei
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia denudata
Magnolia figo
Magnolia fraseri
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia kobus
Magnolia laevifolia
Magnolia liliiflora
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia stellata
Magnolia tripetala
Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird'
Magnolia x kewensis 'Wada' s Memory'
Magnolia x loebneri
Magnolia x soulangeana
Magnolia zenii
Mercury™ 'NCMX1'
- 'Ann'
- 'Ann', 'Butterflies', 'Elizabeth', 'Freeman', 'Genie', 'Goldfinch', 'Gresham', 'Jane', Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia ashei, Magnolia cylindrica, Magnolia denudata, Magnolia figo, Magnolia fraseri, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia kobus, Magnolia laevifolia, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Magnolia maudiae, Magnolia sieboldii, Magnolia stellata, Magnolia tripetala, Magnolia virginiana, Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird', Magnolia x kewensis 'Wada' s Memory', Magnolia x loebneri, Magnolia x soulangeana, Magnolia zenii, Mercury™ 'NCMX1', 'Susan'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ann'
- 'Elizabeth'
- 'Goldfinch'
Hybrid with Light yellow flowers - 'Gresham'
Saucer Magnolia hybrid
'Jane'
- 'Susan'
'Genie'
Magnolia acuminata
Magnolia ashei
Magnolia cylindrica
Magnolia denudata
Magnolia figo
Magnolia fraseri
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia kobus
Magnolia laevifolia
Magnolia liliiflora
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia maudiae
Magnolia sieboldii
Magnolia stellata
Magnolia tripetala
Magnolia virginiana
Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird'
Magnolia x kewensis 'Wada' s Memory'
Magnolia x loebneri
Magnolia x soulangeana
Magnolia zenii
Mercury™ 'NCMX1'
- 'Ann'
- 'Ann', 'Butterflies', 'Elizabeth', 'Freeman', 'Genie', 'Goldfinch', 'Gresham', 'Jane', Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia ashei, Magnolia cylindrica, Magnolia denudata, Magnolia figo, Magnolia fraseri, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia kobus, Magnolia laevifolia, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Magnolia maudiae, Magnolia sieboldii, Magnolia stellata, Magnolia tripetala, Magnolia virginiana, Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird', Magnolia x kewensis 'Wada' s Memory', Magnolia x loebneri, Magnolia x soulangeana, Magnolia zenii, Mercury™ 'NCMX1', 'Susan'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- The Americas & Asia.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 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 Type:
- Aggregate
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are cone-like aggregations of follicles. Each follicle opens to reveal a seed, which often has a colorful, fleshy seed coat.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Description:
- All magnolia flowers are beautiful and showy, and many are deliciously fragrant. A few taxa have unpleasant-smelling flowers, but the odor does not carry far from the flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Papery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Species are either evergreen or deciduous. Most species have large leaves (more than 6 inches long), but some of the smaller species have smaller leaves. Some species have very large leaves, but these are deciduous. The foliage of some evergreen species can be used in flower arrangements or dried.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Ridges
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Foundation Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds