Magnolia grandiflora
Object Details
- Description
- The magnolia family is from the early days of angiosperm (flowering plant) evolution. If we compare it to another flowering tree, we will immediately see how different the magnolia’s cone-like fruits are, and how its flowers grow in spirals rather than the typical whorl. This old plant is still going strong, and the tree’s beauty means humans have planted it far and wide. Magnolia grandiflora, or the southern magnolia, in particular is found nearly everywhere in the southeastern US. A striking tree, everything about the southern magnolia is large; its glossy, evergreen leaves, its hand-sized, cream colored flowers, and its overall height. This tree brings beauty to humid, southern summers.
- Hardiness
- 0 - 30 F
- Bloom Time
- May to June
- Provenance
- Uncertain
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2011-0916A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Life Form
- Evergreen tree
- Average Height
- 60-80'
- Bark Characteristics
- Gray-brown
- Bloom Characteristics
- Large white flowers typically have six petals. 8-12" diameter.
- Foliage Characteristics
- Simple, alternate, leathery ovate leaves. Dark, shiny green above, and light green to brown beneath. It has fuzz on the underside of the leaves. Up to 10" long.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Cone-like clusters which turn red and then split to reveal red shiny seeds suspended on fine threads. Mature in late summer to early fall. 3-5" long.
- Structure
- Pyramidal to rounded
- Range
- SE USA to Texas
- Habitat
- Moist woodlands, hardwood hammocks, bottomlands, and outwashes from uplands
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of Natural History
- Common Name
- Southern Magnolia
- Bull Bay
- Laurel Magnolia
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Magnolianae
- Order
- Magnoliales
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
- Genus
- Magnolia
- Species
- grandiflora
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2011-0916A
