Magnolia macrophylla: 'Bigleaf Magnolia’

Latin name:  Magnolia macrophylla
Common name:  Bigleaf Magnolia
Flowers: White flowers with purple bases, bloom in May ^12,19
Fruit or cones: Showy fruit, mature to red color ¹²
Height & Width:  30’-40’ tall, 30’-40’ wide12, 19 ^12,19
Type:  Deciduous ¹⁹
Habit:  Upright, wide crown ¹²
Wetland indicator category**: FACU ¹⁷
Texture:  Coarse ¹²
Growth rate:  Medium ¹⁹
Light:  Part sun – full sun ^12,19
Moisture:  Well drained ^12,19
Soil*: Sand, clay, loam; acidic-alkaline ¹⁹
Zones:  5-18 ¹²
Origin:  Lower 48 states ¹⁷
Ecosystem benefits: Attracts butterflies, bird and hummingbirds ¹⁹

Features:  This tree has attractive flowers for wildlife ¹⁹. It also is an attractive addition to lawns ¹⁹. Magnolia macrophylla has the largest simple leaves of any tree native to North America and can get up to 30 inches in length ¹².

Siting:  Used in lawns for its attractive flowers ¹². This magnolia should be used in areas away from urban pollutants as it is sensitive to them and it should also be placed in a location protected from strong winds to protect its large leaves ¹².

Care: Plant so root flare is visible at soil surface ¹⁴. At planting, water the root ball daily with two gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for two weeks, every other day for two months and then weekly until established. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the trunk ¹⁴.  

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met ¹².

This plant does not appear on the following invasive plant lists on (3-1-21):

• USDA SC Invasive Plant Species Web site at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml
• SC Exotic Plant Pest Council Web site at http://www.se-eppc.org/southcarolina/

Author: Kayla Pratt

Image source:
1) https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html#cypdb/details/52ee9eb1740e8cad593e5217/
2) https://garden.org/plants/photo/484385/

Sources:

1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/flowers/
5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/groundcovers/
6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/trees/
7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/shrubs/
8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place.  Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
16. USDA . Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html

 

Indicator Code	Indicator Status	Comment
OBL	Obligate Wetland	Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACW	Facultative Wetland	Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FAC	Facultative	Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACU	Facultative Upland	Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPL	Obligate Upland	Rarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands