Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia)

A commanding presence in the landscape, Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) is a magnificent, dense evergreen tree with a straight trunk and a pyramidal to rounded crown. Huge, powerfully fragrant, creamy-white flowers, 8 in. across (20 cm), appear at the tips of thick, tough stems in late spring, throughout the summer, and into fall. The cup-shaped blossoms open in the morning and close at night for 2-3 days. They are followed by cone-like seedpods that contain large rose-red seeds. When the pods open, the seeds often hang by silky threads. The evergreen foliage of large, smooth, leathery, oblong-elliptic leaves, 5-10 in. long (12-25 cm), is shiny dark green above and often tan to copper brown underneath. Native to the southeastern United States, Southern Magnolia is relatively fast-growing and pest free. Long-lived, its attractive evergreen leaves and creamy-white fragrant flowers make it a popular ornamental and shade tree worldwide in warm temperate and subtropical regions. Its dried leaves are prized by florists in flower arrangements. Magnolia grandiflora provides shelter and food for many animals, including native birds (doves, woodpeckers, quails, wild turkeys) and small mammals.

• Grows up to 60-80 ft. tall (18-24 m) and 30-50 ft. wide (9-15 m)
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in organically rich, moist, preferably neutral to acid, well-drained soils. Tolerant of sandy to heavy clay soils when established. Does not withstand extreme drought or wetness, or pollution.
• Perfect as a specimen plant.
• Low maintenance, this beautiful tree is not subject to serious insect or disease issues. Keep an eye out for horse chestnut scale, capsid bug, coral spot, and honey fungus. Deer rarely bother Southern Magnolia.
• No routine pruning is necessary. Remove diseased, damaged, congested, or crossing shoots. If pruning is desired, prune after blooming during the growing season because dormant magnolias do not easily heal.
• Older leaves drop during late spring and summer. This can be a problem in well-manicured landscapes.
• Propagate by seed in autumn, semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn, or layering in early spring.
• Native to the southeastern United States.