Bigleaf Magnolia

Description

Scientific Name: Magnolia macrophylla
Common Names: Bigleaf Magnolia, Silverleaf Magnolia
Plant Type: Mid-size deciduous tree.
Height: 40-60 feet.
Native Habitat: Moist soils, usually in valleys or ravines.
Native Range: South-central United States to Gulf Coast, with localized populations in southern Ohio and Arkansas.
Conservation Status: NatureServe lists Magnolia macrophylla as Critically Imperiled in Arkansas and Virginia; Imperiled in North Carolina and Ohio; and Vulnerable in Georgia. Officially the species is classified as Endangered by Arkansas and Ohio.
Cultivation: Give this plant moist well-drained soil, and water it during droughts. A mulch will help keep the soil moist. If possible, put it in a sheltered spot where strong winds are less likely to shred the leaves.

Bigleaf Magnolia is a medium sized deciduous tree known for its large leaves and flowers. The giant leaves can grow to 30 inch long and the flowers can be one meter wide. Such large sizes make an impact, and an adult one is sure to attract attention. Surprisingly, the tree itself is not particularly large, usually no more than 30 m high. Most plants have a thick trunk and a rounded crown of stout branches. The fragrant flowers that appear in late spring or early summer, six white petals around a yellow and purple heart. Unfortunately they are often partially hidden in the green and therefore difficult to see from the ground. The fruit is a cone-shaped pod with large red or scarlet seeds. If you want a smaller, but similar tree, consider planting an Ashe Magnolia (Magnolia ashei), which at one time was classified as a subspecies of Bigleaf Magnolia. This plant also has a very large leaves and beautiful flowers, but is usually less than 30 meters high. It blooms at a young age, sometimes when there are only three meters high. A very rare species found near the Gulf Coast, it may not do well in northern regions.

The large leaves and flowers are an indication that this is a primitive type. In fact, the magnolias are among the oldest of all surviving family tree. Their blossoms, unlike that of the more recently established trees are pollinated by beetles, which pre-date bees and butterflies. A strong scent helps attract the beetles. Bigleaf Magnolia is found from southern Ohio south to the Gulf Coast, but is not common everywhere. In cultivation it is proven to be hardly in many parts of the north. It's a bit of shade-tolerant, but can also grow in full sun. It has a moist loamy soil and can suffer during drought. If possible, you must plant in a sheltered spot, because high winds can tear the leaves and make them ugly. The tree has shallow roots that make it difficult to garden under, and fallen leaves and seed cones may be a litter problem. For these reasons, it is perhaps best suited to a nature reserve.

Uses

This is a beautiful plant. The large leaves and flowers make it a highly desirable as ornamental tree. The tree was planted in the eastern United States as far north as New England, but is indigenous only to small parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Carolinas. The species name means "big leaf". The members of the Magnoliaceae are the most primitive of flowering plants.