Other Names: Bull Bay, Large Tree Magnolia, Evergreen Southern Magnolia

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One of if not the most grand of all North American native flowering trees, the Southern Magnolia is adored for both its foliage and enormous fragrant flowers. It is a large growing tree with a rounded pyramidal form that can add up to 24 inches in height per year reaching a height of 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide when all grown up. This single trunk tree form is densely clothed in glossy, elliptic, rich green evergreen leaves up to 10 inches long. Appearing late spring and sporadically during summer, very large creamy white flowers up to 12 inches across fill the air with a heavenly, lemony sweet aroma typical of other southern magnolias. Handling all the heat and humidity you can give it, and full sun to part shade, the Southern Magnolia makes for a fine specimen or tall privacy screen where space allows in USDA Zones 6a to 10b.

The Southern Magnolia is very easy to grow in most any average moist but well-drained soil, preferring one that is rich in organic matter. It will tolerate occasionally drought and wet soils, but not standing water. It grows well in full sun, part shade or all-day filtered sun. For best density of foliage and flowering, we suggest 4 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. Very low maintenance and never requires pruning. That said, stray branches can be pruned for shaping purposes or lower branches can be removed to expose expose more trunk to a desired height.