An icon of the South, the magnolia is shrub famed for its large flowers. Magnolias can be either evergreen or deciduous varieties and range in height from 15 to 30 feet. Though it varies by species, they typically grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.
Genus and Varieties
The Magnolia genus contains more than 80 species of flowering plants. The genus is named for a French professor of medicine, Pierre Magnol, who directed the botanical gardens in the city of Montpelier, France. The Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is the state flower of Louisiana. There are also hundreds of magnolia hybrids, bred to combine the qualities of the best specimens.
Flowers, Leaves, Bark and Fruit
Magnolias are prized for their colorful flowers, which can be green, white, pink, yellow or purple. The tree has tough, leathery green leaves, pale gray bark and produces a woody fruit, which resembles a pine cone. When mature, segments of the fruit split open, revealing bright red seeds. Songbirds are particularly fond of the seeds and eat their fleshy coating, which provides them with sustenance to migrate south for the winter.
Magnolias can grow to enormous proportions and should be pruned to keep their size and shape in check. Prune after the magnolias have flowered, in the early summer, cutting off damaged, weak and criss-crossed branches. Also, cut off any shoots that are growing toward the center of the tree. When the tree matures, remove lower branches as desired. If you're pruning to control the size of the magnolia, space out serious trimming over several years to avoid harming the plant.
Magnolias need well-draining soil that has an acidic to neutral pH. The shallow roots of magnolias are delicate and will suffer if damaged by careless shoveling or exposure to compacted soil. Heavy magnolias, or ones with only one trunk, should be supported with a stake to prevent root stress and damage by high winds. If planting a new magnolia, enrich its soil with leaf mold or compost before planting, to provide it with nutrients.
- East Texas Gardening: Magnolias
- Royal Horticultural Society: Magnolia
- Magnolia Society: Getting Started With Magnolias
- Canadian Gardening: Magical Magnolias
- Southern Living: Magnolia Essential Southern Plant
- The United States National Arboretum: Magnolia Questions and Answers
- Natural History Museum: Magnolia
- The United States National Arboretum: Magnolia Cultivars
- University of Hawaii: Magnoliaceae
- Gardening Know How: How to Care for a Magnolia Tree
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