Magnolia
Also known as: Magnolia · Magnolia
19 types of magnolia
Anise Magnolia
also: Magnolia salicifolia, Willow-leaved Magnolia
Fragrant white flowers; anise-scented crushed bark and leaves.
Bi-lobed Magnolia
also: Magnolia officinalis var. biloba
Notched-leaf form of Houpu magnolia.
Bigleaf Magnolia
also: Magnolia macrophylla
Native with the largest simple leaves of any North American tree — up to 3 ft long.
Biond's Magnolia
also: Magnolia biondii, Hope of Spring Magnolia
Very early spring bloomer from China.
Blooming Magnolia
also: Magnolia chapensis
Evergreen Chinese magnolia.
Champak
also: Magnolia champaca, Fragrant Himalayan Champaca, Joy Perfume Tree, Yellow Jade Orchid Tree
Tropical evergreen — intensely fragrant yellow-orange flowers used in perfumery.
Chinese Evergreen Magnolia
also: Magnolia delavayi, Delavay's Magnolia
Large-leaved evergreen from Yunnan.
Cucumber Tree
also: Magnolia acuminata, Blue Magnolia, Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumbertree
Native deciduous magnolia — cucumber-shaped fruit clusters.
Cylindrical Magnolia
also: Magnolia cylindrica, Huangshan Magnolia
Rare Chinese species with cylindrical fruit.
Houpu Magnolia
also: Magnolia officinalis, Magnolia-bark Magnolia
Chinese medicinal magnolia — bark used in traditional medicine.
Kobus Magnolia
also: Magnolia kobus, Northern Japanese Magnolia
Hardy small tree — white to pink-blushed spring flowers.
Lily Magnolia
also: Magnolia liliiflora
Shrubby magnolia with purple-pink lily-shaped flowers.
Loebner Magnolia
also: Magnolia × loebneri
Kobus × Star hybrid — hardy, floriferous, star-like flowers.
Oyama Magnolia
also: Magnolia sieboldii, Siebold Magnolia
Nodding white flowers with crimson stamens — refined shrubby magnolia.
Star Magnolia
also: Magnolia stellata
Compact small tree — starry white many-tepal flowers in earliest spring.
Sweetbay (Northern)
also: Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia
Semi-evergreen wetland native — lemon-scented creamy flowers.
Sweetbay (Southern)
also: Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia, Southern Sweetbay Magnolia
Southern seed source — more evergreen than northern form.
Umbrella Magnolia
also: Magnolia tripetala, Umbrella-tree
Whorls of huge leaves at branch tips, big creamy flowers.
Yulan
also: Magnolia denudata, Lilytree
White chalice-shaped early-spring flowers on bare branches.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
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.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
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
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
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
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
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
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
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.
From your kitchen — grow magnolia from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
My Magnolia notes
Magnolia seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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