Magnolia grandiflora

• BOTANICAL NAME: Magnolia grandiflora
• PRONUNCIATION:
  mag-NOL-i-a grand-i-FLOR-a
• COMMON NAME: Southern Magnolia
• FAMILY: Magnoliaceae
• NATIVITY:  North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas, primarily in the coastal plains
• GROWTH HABIT:  Generally low-branching and pyramidal though showing great variation among cultivars.
• SIZE: 60 - 80' tall, 30 to 50' spread
• HARDINESS: Zone 7 - 9
• CULTURE: Full or partial sun with moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil.  In northern limits it needs a sheltered location.  Best time for transplanting is late winter/early spring.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:  Climax
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative
• LANDSCAPE USE:  Specimen plant; may be used in groupings to create a screen or hedge.
• FOLIAGE: Dark green above light green below, sometimes with rust-colored pubescence on underside.
• BUDS: Rust-brown colored, tomentose, 3/4" - 1 1/4" long.
• BARK: Smooth gray.
• FLOWERS: Creamy white, 8 - 12" in diameter.
• FRUIT: Rose red, 3 - 5" long. Ripen in September, October, November.
• PROPAGATION: Seed.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS:
  • `Hessi' - upright growth
  • `Little Gem' - smallest of the forms