Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
A large, evergreen tree featuring large, dark green leathery leaves with rusty-brown fuzzy undersides, and large aggregate cone-like structures carrying seeds.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, preferring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Requires regular watering when young to establish a deep root system. Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance, but performs best with regular moisture during dry spells.
- Growth
- Perennial evergreen tree with an upright, pyramidal to rounded growth habit, reaching mature heights of 60 to 80 feet with a spread of 30 to 50 feet, growing at a slow to medium rate
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade with consistently moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, preferring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Requires regular watering when young to establish a deep root system. Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance, but performs best with regular moisture during dry spells.
Soil
Prefers rich, moist, organic-rich soils with good drainage and an acidic to neutral pH range of 5.0 to 6.5
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9
Growth habit
Perennial evergreen tree with an upright, pyramidal to rounded growth habit, reaching mature heights of 60 to 80 feet with a spread of 30 to 50 feet, growing at a slow to medium rate
Bloom season
Blooms from late spring through summer with large, fragrant, cup-shaped white flowers measuring up to 12 inches across
Propagation
Propagated primarily through semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer, or via seeds stratified in cold storage before planting
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, but may occasionally encounter scale insects, leaf spots, and algal leaf spot, which can be managed with proper air circulation, correct watering practices, and appropriate horticultural oils if necessary
Similar species
Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), which features smaller leaves with lighter silvery undersides and smaller flowers