Southern Magnolia

Native to the southeastern United States.

• Found from coastal North Carolina south through South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas
• Most abundant in the coastal plain and lower Piedmont regions
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 150 meters, occasionally higher in the Appalachians
• A dominant tree in the beech-magnolia forests of the Deep South
• Cultivated since the 1730s, when it was first sent to Europe
• The genus Magnolia is named after Pierre Magnol, a French botanist (1638–1715)
• The species name "grandiflora" means "large-flowered" in Latin
• The Southern Magnolia is one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in the warm-temperate world
• Magnolia fossils dating back 95 million years are virtually identical to modern species — among the oldest living angiosperm lineages
• Mississippi is known as "The Magnolia State" and the Southern Magnolia is its state tree and state flower

A large, striking evergreen tree with a broad, pyramidal crown.

Bark:
• Gray to gray-brown, smooth when young, developing thin, plate-like scales with age

Leaves:
• Alternate, broadly elliptic to ovate, 12 to 30 cm long and 5 to 12 cm wide
• Thick, leathery, and glossy dark green above
• Covered in dense, rusty-brown felt (indumentum) beneath — a distinctive feature
• Entire margins, with a rounded to notched tip
• Evergreen, but individual leaves persist for only about 2 years
• Older leaves drop in spring as new growth begins

Flowers:
• Solitary, borne at branch tips, spectacular — among the largest flowers of any tree
• Creamy white, 20 to 30 cm across, with 6 to 15 thick, waxy tepals
• Intensely fragrant with a rich, lemony scent detectable from a distance
• Blooms from May through June, with sporadic flowering continuing through summer
• Pollinated primarily by beetles — an ancient pollination mechanism predating the evolution of bees
• Flowers close at night and reopen in the morning for several days

Fruit:
• Aggregate of follicles forming an oval, rose-pink cone-like structure, 5 to 8 cm long
• Very ornamental — bright red seeds hang on thin white threads when mature
• Seeds dispersed by birds

Form:
• 20 to 30 meters tall with trunk diameters commonly 60 to 120 cm
• Crown broad, dense, pyramidal when young, becoming more rounded with age
• Often retains branches low to the ground

The Southern Magnolia is an ecologically important tree in southeastern forest ecosystems.

Habitat:
• Found in moist, rich, well-drained soils of bottomlands, ravines, and hammocks
• A component of beech-magnolia forests and longleaf pine-mixed hardwood forests
• Often found as a scattered emergent in mixed forests
• Tolerates shade when young, eventually growing into the canopy
• Prefers warm, humid conditions and protection from strong winds

Ecological interactions:
• Ancient beetle pollination: flowers are structured for beetle access — tough tepals resist beetle damage, and the floral chamber provides a mating site
• Seeds with bright red arils are consumed and dispersed by birds, especially wild turkeys and songbirds
• Dense evergreen canopy provides year-round cover and nesting sites for birds
• Leaves decompose slowly, creating a deep leaf litter layer
• Root systems are wide-spreading but relatively shallow

Growth:
• Moderate growth rate of 30 to 60 cm per year
• Very long-lived — specimens of 200 to 300+ years are known
• Roots are sensitive to disturbance — does not tolerate transplanting well once established
• Tolerates pruning and can be trained as a large hedge or screen

One of the finest evergreen shade trees for warm-temperate and subtropical climates.

Site selection:
• Full sun to partial shade
• Prefers moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soils
• Protect from strong winds, which can damage the large leaves
• Allow ample space — mature trees are large and dense
• Can be grown as a specimen, shade tree, or large evergreen screen

Planting:
• Plant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown trees in spring or early fall
• Choose a sheltered site — avoid frost pockets and wind tunnels
• Mulch heavily to protect the shallow root system

Care:
• Water during dry periods for the first few years
• Once established, moderately drought-tolerant
• Minimal pruning needed — naturally develops a beautiful pyramidal form
• Remove lower branches if desired to create a canopy for underplanting
• Leaf drop in spring is normal — not a sign of disease
• Generally pest-free, though scale insects and magnolia whitefly can occur
• Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10

The Southern Magnolia is one of the most culturally significant and widely planted trees in the American South.

Ornamental:
• One of the most popular and iconic landscape trees of the American South
• Widely planted as a specimen shade tree, street tree, and screen
• Many cultivars selected for size, cold-hardiness, and leaf characteristics
• Popular cultivars: Little Gem (compact), Bracken's Brown Beauty (cold-hardy), Teddy Bear (compact)

Cultural significance:
• State flower of Mississippi and Louisiana
• Mississippi is called "The Magnolia State"\• An icon of Southern hospitality and charm
• Featured in literature by William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Harper Lee

Timber:
• Pale, soft wood used for boxes, crates, Venetian blinds, and paper pulp
• Not a major commercial timber species

Traditional medicine:
• Bark used as a febrifuge (fever reducer) and anti-inflammatory
• Cone-like fruit used in traditional medicine
• Modern research has identified compounds with anti-anxiety and anti-cancer properties

Floral industry:
• Flowers used in high-end floral arrangements
• Magnolia garlands are a Southern wedding tradition