Southern Magnolia is a magnificent broadleaf evergreen tree native to the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. It grows 60 to 80 feet tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown, thriving in Zones 7 to 9 (and sometimes Zone 6 with protection). The tree is prized for its large, extremely fragrant flowers that bloom from May through June, along with its glossy dark green leathery leaves that can reach 10 inches long. This is a tree that commands attention in any landscape, combining year-round evergreen beauty with stunning seasonal blooms.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
960in H x 600in W
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Moderate
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The flowers of Southern Magnolia are legendary among gardeners who encounter them. These enormous, intensely fragrant blooms emerge in late spring and make the entire surrounding air sweet with their scent. The foliage is equally striking: leathery, glossy dark green leaves with undersides ranging from pale green to gray-brown create a sophisticated, layered appearance even when the tree is not in flower. Deer leave it alone, and it tolerates urban conditions well, though it dislikes extreme soil moisture and many urban pollutants.
Southern Magnolia is grown primarily as a specimen flowering tree in landscapes where its large size and seasonal blooms can be appreciated. The showy flowers and evergreen foliage make it a centerpiece tree for formal gardens and estates. While the fruit is technically edible, the tree is valued almost exclusively for its ornamental qualities rather than for food production.
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Southern Magnolia requires minimal pruning once established. Remove any crossing, diseased, or damaged branches to maintain the tree's natural pyramidal to rounded crown shape. Pruning is best done after flowering in late spring or early summer.
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“Southern Magnolia is native to moist wooded areas throughout the southeastern United States, where it has grown for centuries as part of the region's natural forest ecology. This species has held deep cultural significance in the American South for generations, becoming synonymous with Southern gardens and landscapes. The tree arrived in cultivation through its natural range expansion and deliberate planting by gardeners who recognized both its ornamental beauty and ecological value.”