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Magnolia

Tree
See genus notes
Full sun to part shade

Also known as: Magnolia · Magnolia

Varieties

19 types of magnolia

Anise Magnolia

also: Magnolia salicifolia, Willow-leaved Magnolia

Fragrant white flowers; anise-scented crushed bark and leaves.

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Bi-lobed Magnolia

also: Magnolia officinalis var. biloba

Notched-leaf form of Houpu magnolia.

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Bigleaf Magnolia

also: Magnolia macrophylla

Native with the largest simple leaves of any North American tree — up to 3 ft long.

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Biond's Magnolia

also: Magnolia biondii, Hope of Spring Magnolia

Very early spring bloomer from China.

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Blooming Magnolia

also: Magnolia chapensis

Evergreen Chinese magnolia.

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Champak

also: Magnolia champaca, Fragrant Himalayan Champaca, Joy Perfume Tree, Yellow Jade Orchid Tree

Tropical evergreen — intensely fragrant yellow-orange flowers used in perfumery.

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Chinese Evergreen Magnolia

also: Magnolia delavayi, Delavay's Magnolia

Large-leaved evergreen from Yunnan.

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Cucumber Tree

also: Magnolia acuminata, Blue Magnolia, Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumbertree

Native deciduous magnolia — cucumber-shaped fruit clusters.

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Cylindrical Magnolia

also: Magnolia cylindrica, Huangshan Magnolia

Rare Chinese species with cylindrical fruit.

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Houpu Magnolia

also: Magnolia officinalis, Magnolia-bark Magnolia

Chinese medicinal magnolia — bark used in traditional medicine.

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Kobus Magnolia

also: Magnolia kobus, Northern Japanese Magnolia

Hardy small tree — white to pink-blushed spring flowers.

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Lily Magnolia

also: Magnolia liliiflora

Shrubby magnolia with purple-pink lily-shaped flowers.

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Loebner Magnolia

also: Magnolia × loebneri

Kobus × Star hybrid — hardy, floriferous, star-like flowers.

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Oyama Magnolia

also: Magnolia sieboldii, Siebold Magnolia

Nodding white flowers with crimson stamens — refined shrubby magnolia.

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Star Magnolia

also: Magnolia stellata

Compact small tree — starry white many-tepal flowers in earliest spring.

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Sweetbay (Northern)

also: Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia

Semi-evergreen wetland native — lemon-scented creamy flowers.

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Sweetbay (Southern)

also: Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia, Southern Sweetbay Magnolia

Southern seed source — more evergreen than northern form.

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Umbrella Magnolia

also: Magnolia tripetala, Umbrella-tree

Whorls of huge leaves at branch tips, big creamy flowers.

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Yulan

also: Magnolia denudata, Lilytree

White chalice-shaped early-spring flowers on bare branches.

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When & where

Season
See genus notes — sow in appropriate season for zone
USDA zones
Check the species' native range against your USDA zone before planting.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Start indoors
8–10 weeks before last frost (or per species)
Direct sow outdoors
After last frost, or fall for stratifiers
Days to harvest
Years, not days — most seed-grown trees take 5–15 years to reach a useful size.

Germination

Germination time
30–120 days, often uneven — some seed waits until a second spring.
Soil temperature
60–75°F (15–24°C)

Spacing & depth

Sow depth
Sow large nuts and acorns 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) deep; winged or small tree seed 1/4–1/2 in (6–12 mm).
Seed spacing
Space in flats or direct-sow rows
Mature plant spacing
Space to the mature spread — 30–50 ft (9–15 m) — set the planting distance to the mature canopy, not the sapling
Row spacing
Leave walking room — at least the plant's mature width between rows

How to plant

Consult species-specific guidance. Most benefit from good drainage, patience, and matching zone.

Grower's tip

Iconic flowering trees — most prefer moist, rich, slightly acid soil and protection from harsh wind.

Woody plant facts

USDA zones
Check the species' native range against your USDA zone before planting.
Mature height
40–70 ft (12–21 m) for most shade trees
Mature spread
30–50 ft (9–15 m) — set the planting distance to the mature canopy, not the sapling
Pollination
Wind-pollinated. A single tree sets seed once mature, but a second tree nearby improves seed fill.
Planting depth for seed
Sow large nuts and acorns 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) deep; winged or small tree seed 1/4–1/2 in (6–12 mm).
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
Disease & problem notes
Keep mulch off the trunk, water deeply rather than often, and prune in dormancy to limit canker and rot entry points.

Soil preferences

Soil type

Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.

pH range

5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).

Amendments

Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.

Watering

Frequency

Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.

Method

Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.

Over vs. under

Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.

Top-water or bottom-water?

Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.

Temperature tolerance

Ideal daytime air temp

Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established

Ideal nighttime air temp

Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum

Frost sensitivity

Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.

Special germination requirements

Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.

Container growing

Container-suitable?

Possible with the right cultivar

Recommended pot size

Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.

Notes

Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.

Detailed harvesting

Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.

Post-harvest storage & preservation

Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.

Culinary, medicinal & other uses

Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.

Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.

Seed saving

Pollination

Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).

Isolation needs

Not practical for trees. Expect variation.

How to save

Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.

Your zone's planting calendar

Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for magnolia in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.

My Magnolia notes

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Magnolia seeds on hand

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