Magnolia

Magnolias are among the most popular flowering ornamental trees of our region. With fragrant, showy flowers of pink, red, purple, or yellow, the many cultivars of the magnolia tree are used to improve landscapes and curb appeal across the country. There are over 200 species. One of the most popular types in America is the Southern magnolia, but this variation is possibly a lily magnolia. However, the lily is often crossed with the Yulan magnolia to create the also-popular saucer magnolia, which this also resembles. The southern magnolia is the state tree of Mississippi.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Magnolia liliiflora (lily magnolia) or Magnolia soulangeana (saucer magnolia)

HISTORY: The magnolia tree is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), coined by botanist Charles Plumier in 1703. Magnol was the director of the botanical garden in Montpelier, France. Various types of magnolias are native to North America, Europe, and Asia; early botanists introduced it to French and English gardens. The lily magnolia is an Asiatic species from China.

LEAVES: The obate to obovate leaves of the magnolia are dark green, simple, and alternate.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Magnolias have a pickle-shaped fruit that starts green, matures to red and then splits open to reveal seeds.

FLOWERS: Magnolia flowers come in a variety of shapes and colors across species and cultivars. The lily magnolia has goblet or lily-shaped flowers with 6-7 petals that are purplish-red on the outside and white on the inside.

BARK: Magnolia trees usually have a smooth gray bark.

HEIGHT: The height of a magnolia tree depends on its species. Usually a large magnolia shrub can grow to more than 8 feet and just as wide.

USES: Magnolias are most commonly used as ornamental trees, but their wood is also useful. It is soft and light in color and used for making crates, boxes, and light furniture.

SOURCES:

https://www.arborday.org/programs/nationaltree/magnolia.cfm

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-liliiflora/

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/magnolia/

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.