Magnolia grandiflora Linnaeus. Subgenus: Magnolia. Section: Magnolia. Common name: Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Laurel. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Maritime forests, mesic Coastal Plain bluffs and flats, bottomlands, now also widely naturalized, spreading from cultivation into wet to mesic (and even dry) forests. Distribution: The pre-Columbian range was apparently from se. NC south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. TX, largely on the Coastal Plain, now somewhat expanded northward and inland by naturalization from centuries of horticultural planting and spread by birds to nearby forests.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: Curtis (1860) states that "the northern limit of this tree is in Brunswick County [NC], south of the Cape Fear; but it flourishes in cultivation through all the lower part of the State". This is, of course, the classic "southern magnolia", along with live oak (Quercus virginiana) and bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum), a totem tree of the Deep South.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl2, FNA3, GW2, K1, K3, K4, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, Va, Frodin & Govaerts (1996), Sima & Lu (2012), Tobe (1998); = Magnolia foetida (L.) Sarg. – S13; = n/a – F, Il, Tat
Links to other floras: = Magnolia grandiflora - FNA3
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.











Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Magnolia grandiflora? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.
Horticultural Information
Intro:
Stems:
Leaves:
Inforescence:
Flowers:
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 60-80 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description:
stems:
leaves:
inflorescence:
flowers:
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States