USDA Plants Database
NWF Native Gardening and Invasive Plants Guide
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae family)
Hardiness:
Can be planted in northern climates, but need to be protected from winter winds.
Native Range:
Native from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas.
Habit:
Southern magnolias are pyramid-shaped when young and become broad, wide habit as they reach maturity. Their branches are dense, and the trees usually reach a height of about 50 feet.
Conditions:Magnolias prefer light shade or sun. If planted in a sunny location they should be mulched to keep the roots cool and moist. Does well in rich, acidic, well-drained soil. They do best when planted as balled and burlaped young trees in spring or fall. (They often goes through transplant shock and drop some leaves when planted). Magnolias are essentially pest free and can tolerate moist soil conditions.
Leaves:
Their large, glossy leaves emerge pale green and change to deep green during the summer months. The mature leaves are very stiff and are partly rust-colored on the underside. The old leaves drop in spring and fall, and decompose very slowly.
Flowers:
Magnolias produce large, cream-colored blooms, which are highly fragrant. They produce a flush of blooms in June and sporadic flowers throughout the summer months. It may take several growing seasons for magnolias to bloom.
Fruit:
Magnolias produce large cone-like structures in late summer, which split open to reveal red seeds. The fruits ripen in September and October.
Wildlife Value:
The evergreen leaves provide shelter for animals, and seeds are eaten by some songbirds.
Southern magnolias are a landscape staple in the southeastern U.S. They are a stately evergreen tree that screams Old South, and would make a great addition to any garden. Magnolias require a large growing space and take many years to reach their full size. In recent years, breeders have developed new cultivars with improved cold hardiness, bloom period, and overall size. There are hundreds of cultivars commercially available.
A large southern magnolia can be found on Olmsted Walk between the Przewalski's horse yard and the Small Mammal House.
References:
Dirr, Michael. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.
Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski. Gardening with Native Plants of the South. 1994. Taylor Publishing Company. Dallas, Texas.
