Six Magnolia Choices for Your Landscape

Love magnolia trees but don’t know what kind to plant? Here are six magnolia tree choices for your landscape. These trees are listed by nomenclature, growth, planting instructions, and general overview of the magnolia tree.

Magnolia acuminata (L.) L. (Cucumber-tree)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia acuminata (L.) L. – cucumber-tree

This magnolia is so named because its fruit looks like a cucumber. It reaches a height and a spread of 50-80 feet. A fast grower with wide branches, it prefers full sun or partial shade. Its fragrant green white flowers will appear in spring and come fall will have yellow bronze color.

Magnolia grandiflora L. (Southern magnolia)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia grandiflora L. – southern magnolia

One of the best known trees in the south, the magnolia is a fast growing evergreen that will mature at around 60-90 feet. It has large saucer-like white flowers that are classically fragrant. Blooms appear from April to June. Magnolias are best in rich moist soils and will tolerate some shade. Plant this for a showy classic addition to your garden. Letting the leaves fall without raking provides natural ground mulch for the tree.

Magnolia macrophylla Michx. (Bigleaf Magnolia)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia macrophylla Michx. – bigleaf magnolia

Living up to its name, this magnolia has waxy leaves ranging from 20-30 inches, with whitish hairs underneath. It reaches a height of 40 feet and a spread of 15 feet. Fruits are large, similar to cones, and its flowers are fragrant and white appearing April to May. It is a slow grower and has a straight trunk. It prefers sun or partial shade. Bigleaf Magnolia is a highly ornamental tree.

Magnolia pyramidata Bartr. (Pyramid Magnolia)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia pyramidata Bartr. – pyramid magnolia

This deciduous tree gets up to 30 feet high and has a spread of 25 feet. Its leaves are 8-10 inches long and offset its 3-5 inch long white flowers. It has a high heat tolerance and thin grey/brown bark.

Magnolia tripetala (L.) L. (Umbrella Magnolia, umbrella-tree)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia tripetala (L.) L. – umbrella-tree

With one to two foot diamond shaped leaves, the umbrella tree really is a canopied marvel. It gets up to 40 feet tall and has a 20-30 foot spread. It will have several trunks and large showy flowers that are typical to the magnolia taxa. Its cone like fruit will mature in August or September and is pollinated by beetles. This magnolia prefers partial shade or full shade and is not drought tolerant. An ornamental favorite for any garden, this tree will do you proud.

Magnolia virginiana L. (Sweetbay)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae –

Order Magnoliales –

Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolia family

Genus Magnolia L. – magnolia

Species Magnolia virginiana L. – sweetbay

A slow-growing evergreen tree, this magnolia species can grow from 50-100 feet. It produces spectacular white flowers from April to July and will have red fruits from July to October. It will do perfectly in a partly shady spot in your landscape. Two-thirds of all magnolia wood is used for furniture, but it is also used for Popsicle sticks, tongue depressors, and broom handles. It is important forage for deer and cattle, making up 25% of their diet in the winter.