Southern magnolia, is a large, broadleaf evergreen tree that is noted for its attractive glossy dark green leaves and its large, extremely fragrant flowers. It is native to the bottomlands and moist wooded areas in the central and southeastern coastal plains from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. It typically grows to 60 to 80 feet tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown, a spread of 20 to 40 feet wide, and a trunk diameter of 3 feet. It is a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). The species epithet is Latin for "large flowered." This is a magnificent tree for planting as a specimen in the South in large yards, parks, or commercial sites. Be sure to provide plenty of space to grow. Lower branches tend to reach the ground and can be pruned out to appear more tree-like. Nothing will grow underneath the tree, and it requires a mulch to prevent erosion problems. Giant fragrant white flowers are borne in the summer months and are extremely ornamental. The woody brown fruits with bright red seeds are used in dried arrangments. It prefers rich soil with partial shade and, in nature, is usually an understory tree. However, when grown as an ornamental, it maintains heavily leaved limbs almost to the ground. Tolerates high moisture levels, but is intolerant to overly wet or swampy soils and prolonged flooding. Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Scale is an occasional pest problem. Leaf drop in both fall and spring. Leaves can be chopped with a rotary mower and blown back under the branches to recycle nutrients. A frequent escapee from cultivation. In many suburban yards, the mature size of this tree is way too large, consider a smaller cultivar. Quick ID Hints: Stiff, leathery, laurel-like leaves Giant white flowers appear in the summer Leaves are rusty-brown and tomentose below More information on Magnolia .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗Reconciled to full toolbox: matched by slug to slug 'magnolia-grandiflora'. Identity (id/common/scientific name) preserved from the original 87-plant Hunnicutt set; attribute data refreshed from the 71-attribute toolbox scrape.
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
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High; Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Dense; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The Southern Magnolia has 5-10 alternate, simple, persistent, leathery evergreen ovate to elliptic leaves (5 to 10 inches long). They are glossy dark green above and variable pale green to gray-brown beneath. It has felt-like fuzz and rusty-brown tomentose on back of its leaves. Leaves are stiffly coriaceous, acute, cuneate, and entire.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
The Southern Magnolia has fragrant creamy white flowers (8 to 12 inches in diameter) that are usually composed of six to twelve petals. The flowers bloom in late spring, with sparse continued flowering throughout the summer. Flowers are solitary, axillary, scattered on the plant, and have a perianth (6 inches long) of 9-15 members. Flowers bloom from May to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit value
Edible; Good Dried
Fruit detail
The flowers give way to spherical cone-like fruiting clusters that are an aggregate of follicles (to 3-5” long) and mature from September to October, releasing individual rose-red coated seeds suspended on slender red threads at maturity. Fruits are rusty-tomentose.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
The bark is brown to gray and smooth when young. As the tree ages, close plates or scales develop.
Stem detail
Branches are borne to ground level and are spreading.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
Maryland south west to Texas southeast to Florida.
Wildlife value
It provides winter and severe weather cover. Its seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
It was traditionally used medicinally to treat circulatory system disorders. The leaves, fruits, bark and wood yield variety of extracts with potential applications of pharmaceuticals. The wood is light, soft, and tan-colored with indistinct grain. It is used commercially for veneer, furniture parts, paper pulp, and flake and chip boards.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Children's Garden; Edible Garden; Garden for the Blind; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden