Southern magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora L.
Also called southern magnolia, bull bay.
Large evergreen tree with glossy leathery leaves and big fragrant white flowers in late spring. A bold year-round screen where there is room.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 15–24 m (49–79 ft) tall and 9–15 m (30–49 ft) wide; medium growth, about 25 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the BB-2in install size.
Bloom
Creamy white flowers, May–Jun (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern magnolia : May–Jun |
Design notes
- Dense shade and constant leaf litter make underplanting and lawn nearly impossible; leave lower limbs to the ground.
- Compact cultivars (e.g. 'Little Gem') suit small lots; 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' is hardier for zone 6 sites.
Regions
Native range: Southeastern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Florida and east Texas.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Southern magnolia
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.