Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; oval to ovate; 5" to 10" long; 2-1/2" to 4" wide; evergreen in warm climates (leaves live two years), but will sometimes turn brown and fall off in colder climates (generally zones 5 and colder); entire margin; acute to acuminate apex; dark green and shiny above; densely red-hairy beneath; thick and leathery; petiole 1" to 2" long.

Twigs/buds: Twigs stout; green; covered with red hairs or glabrous.  Terminal buds about 1" to 1-1/2", covered with white or red silky hairs; lateral buds smaller.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, 6" to 10" diameter, white, fragrant, open in May to June and have 6 to 12 petals.  Fruit similar to cucumbertree, but 3" to 4" long and woolly red.

Bark: Thin; brown to gray; smooth when young and flaky on old trees.

Wood: Important; one of the three commercial magnolia species; heartwood light brown to dark brown with some yellow or green, sapwood yellowish-white; uniform in texture, straight-grained, similar to yellow-poplar (L. tulipifera); moderately heavy, moderately low in strength, moderately stiff and hard, rather shock-resistant; used for furniture, pallets, boxes, blinds, veneer, doors, and millwork.

General: Native to the extreme southeastern U.S. from southeast Texas to eastern North Carolina.  Intermediate shade tolerance.  Evergreen broadleaf (retains its leaves for more than one year).

Landscape Use: Seldom planted in Utah but can do well on warm enough sites.  Large shiny leaves, strong pyramidal to oval habit, and dramatic flowers make this a very desirable tree where it is hardy.  Prefers rich, well-drained soil.  Needs winter wind and sun protection in colder northern sites.  Zones 7(6?)-9.

Cultivars: 'Alta', 'Baby Grand', Bracken's Brown Beauty', 'Claudia Wannamaker', 'Coco', 'D.D. Blanchard', 'Edith Bogue', 'Emory', 'Teddy Bear'.

Characteristics