The Umbrella Magnolia is a flowering, medium-sized, tree or large shrub typically reaching a mature height of 30 feet with a 30 foot spread, although some may grow to 45 feet high. While uncommon, this understory, native tree is found throughout North Carolina. It has 10 to 24 inch leaves in whorl-like clusters at the end of stems and resembles the spokes of an umbrella, hence the common name. The 10 inch flowers are bowl-shaped and creamy white and bloom in the spring. The plant is typically found in the rich, moist woods, ravines, slopes and sides of streams in the Appalachian Mountains. The Umbrella Magnolia does best in organically rich, moist soil, sited in partial shade, with consistent watering. It tolerates close to full shade, but will grow in full sun, particularly in northern climates, as long as soils are kept moist. However, it does not like extremely dry or extremely wet soils. It should be planted in areas protected from strong winds to prevent damage to the leaves. The flowers are fragrant with an odor that some people find unpleasant. The wood smells bad when broken and is soft, spongy and easily broken. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases. Magnolia scales and yellow poplar weevils can be a 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
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Large leaves (up to 24 inches long and 10 inches wide) are clustered at end of stems, near the bud. Like Bigleaf Magnolia the bud is also a light green color that resembles a paint brush.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Creamy white flowers bloom from April to May. Flowers have an unpleasant odor. The bowl-shaped, creamy white 6 to 10 inch flowers have 6 to 12 petal-like tepals.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Aggregate
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
Cone-like, pink, 4 inch fruit is an aggregate of follicles. It displays from July to October.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Gray bark is thin and smooth.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
Pennsylvania to North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains into South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
Wildlife value
This plant is a food source for birds and mammals. The leaves are eaten by a variety of animals.