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Native alternative(s) for Magnolia:
Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia virginiana Magnolia virginiana
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Celtis tenuifolia Branches (Schuyler County, NY)-Early Fall
Prunus americana Form in bloom
Symplocos tinctoria Symplocos tinctoria
Magnolia has some common insect problems:
Magnolia Scale
Yellow Poplar Weevil
Magnolia has some common disease problems:
Sooty Molds
Magnolia has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Magnolia

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Champaca
  • Manglietia
  • Michelia
  • Talauma
Phonetic Spelling
mag-NO-lee-ah
Description

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:
'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:
#evergreen#deciduous#fragrant flowers#shrub#native tree#NC native#NC Native Pollinator Plant#tree
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'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:
#evergreen#deciduous#fragrant flowers#shrub#native tree#NC native#NC Native Pollinator Plant#tree
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Ridges
    Smooth
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    Yes
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
  • 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