Cucumber Tree is a native deciduous tree found in eastern North America and is found in the foothills and Appalachian Mountains of NC. The tree is found naturally in subxeric forests (especially over rock) and in moist to dry slopes. It will grow 60-80 feet tall with a pyramidal crown and a straight trunk. The trunk diameter can reach 3-4 feet. This is a deciduous magnolia that produces 2-4 inch slightly-fragrant, greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers at the twig tips in late spring, but is named for the green, warty, cucumber-shaped fruits that follow the flowers. The leaves have nice yellow-gold fall color. Cone-like fruits mature to a showy red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity. This plant tolerates a wide range of pH and prefers moist well-drained soil with organic matter in full sun to partial shade. It is sensitive to heat and drought, and has a low soil compaction tolerance. These trees cast dense shade, and are beautifully symmetrical making them a park, residential and golf course tree of preference. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Magnolia scale is a potential problem. More information on Magnolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are simple, alternate, oblong to oval with smooth and often wavy margins. They are 6-10 inches long and 3-6 inches wide, shiny yellow-green on the upper side and paler below with hairs, pointed tips and pinnate venation. Unlike most magnolias, this one has a respectable yellow fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are slightly-fragrant, greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers (2-4” long) at the twig tips in late spring. Flowers bloom April-June. Often hidden by the foliage.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
The fruit is a 2-3 inch long aggregate of follicles in a cone shape that is green turning to red when young and matures to brown. Individual red-coated seeds are suspended on slender threads at maturity. Persists.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Furrowed dark gray-brown soft bark. Easily damaged by lawn equipment.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish-brown stems with vertical gray lenticels have a spicy scent when bruised.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Ontario to East Central & Eastern U.S.A
Wildlife value
Twigs and buds are browsed by white-tailed deer. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Shade; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Early Americans once used immature Cucumber tree fruit to flavor whiskey.