We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Magnolia grandiflora - L.

Common Name Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Large-flowered Magnolia, Southern Magnolia
Family Magnoliaceae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Hammocks, sand dunes, buffs and sandy bottoms[72]. Rich moist soils[227]. Always found in lowland areas, never above 105 metres altitude[229]
Range South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida and Texas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Large-flowered Magnolia, Southern  Magnolia


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay, Large-flowered Magnolia, Southern  Magnolia
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Pyramidal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Beetles. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. foetida. M. virginiana foetida.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses: Condiment

The flowers are pickled in some parts of England and are considered to have an exquisite flavour[2, 183]. They are also said to be used as a spice and a condiment[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic  Hypotensive  Malaria  Salve  Stimulant  Tonic

The bark is diaphoretic, stimulant, tonic[46, 61, 240]. It is used in the treatment of malaria and rheumatism[240]. A decoction has been used as a wash and a bath for prickly heat itching[257]. The decoction has also been used as a wash for sores and as a steam bath for treating dropsy[257]. An alcoholic extract of the plant reduces the blood pressure, produces a slight acceleration in respiration but has no action on the heart[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Essential  Shelterbelt  Wood

A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings[200]. An essential oil is obtained from the flowers[240]. Wood - hard and fairly heavy, but weak and not durable[227]. White when first cut, it turns brown on exposure to air[229]. It is used in limited amounts for fuel, baskets, crates, woodenware and furniture[82, 227].

Special Uses

Espalier  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Espalier, Firewood, Pest tolerant, Aggressive surface roots possible, Screen, Seashore, Specimen, Street tree. Best grown in a warm position in a moderately rich free soil of an open texture[1]. Tolerates moderately limey soils[200, 202] so long as they are deep and rich in humus[188]. The branches are brittle so a sheltered position is required[200]. Another part of the same book says that this species is fairly wind-resistant[200]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[219]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c[200]. The fleshy roots are easily damaged and any transplanting is best done during a spell of mild moist weather in late spring[182]. A very ornamental plant[1], a number of named forms have been developed[200]. The flowers are very large (up to 25cm across) and have a delicious and very powerful scent[202, 245]. This is perhaps the most strongly scented flower in the world[245]. They can be produced in trees as young as 10 years old[229]. The form 'Exmouth Variety' (also known as elliptica) produces its flowers when younger than the species, these flowers have a refreshing lemon scent[245]. There is no main flush of flowering, instead the flowers open intermittently throughout the summer[K]. Plants do not normally need pruning, any cutting out of dead wood etc is best carried out in July[219]. Special Features: Attracts birds, Attractive foliage, North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed must be kept cold over the winter and should be sown in late winter in a cold frame[200]. The seed usually germinates in the spring but it can take 18 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions when they are more than 15cm tall, though should be well mulched and given some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Layering in early spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Alabama (south), Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi (south), North Carolina (east), South Carolina, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Liriodendron tulipiferaTulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Canary WhitewoodTree30.0 4-9 MLMHNM123
Magnolia acuminataCucumber Tree, Cucumber MagnoliaTree20.0 3-8 MLMHSNM032
Magnolia campbellii Tree20.0 7-10  LMHSNM002
Magnolia denudataLily Tree, Yulan MagnoliaTree10.0 5-9 SLMHSNM12 
Magnolia dodecapetalaBwapen mawonTree35.0 10-12 SLMHNM004
Magnolia hypoleucaWhitebark MagnoliaTree15.0 5-9 MLMHSNM222
Magnolia kobusKobus magnolia, Northern Japanese MagnoliaTree12.0 4-7 MLMHSNM112
Magnolia liliifloraMu-Lan, Woody Orchid, Lily MagnoliaShrub3.0 4-9 MLMHSNM03 
Magnolia macrophyllaBigleaf MagnoliaTree10.0 5-8 SLMHSNM012
Magnolia officinalisHou PoTree20.0 7-10  LMHSNM032
Magnolia stellataStar MagnoliaShrub5.0 4-8 SLMHSNM10 
Magnolia virginianaLaurel Magnolia, SweetbayTree10.0 4-8 SLMHSNM132
Michelia figoBanana Shrub, MicheliaShrub5.0 8-10 MLMHSNM10 
Schisandra chinensisMagnolia Vine, Wu Wei ZiClimber9.0 4-8 MLMHFSM452

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1172200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

jane camellia sarkar   Tue Aug 8 2006

I smelt this plant last saturday and thought how beatutiful and orange blossom like it was. I would like to know how to obtain the esential oil and other parts for eating and spicing if available.

   Aug 5 2011 12:00AM

I have had my plant for 10 years, although I bought it as a well established shrub. It flowered almost immediately and has done regularly. Last year flowers were sparse,but the plant grew and is now over 3m tall. It has come through the past winter relatively un scathed, but it started to shed leaves of a yellow to brown nature in abundance. However new growth has appeared during the year followed by flowers. However these turn brown within a day. I have recently had a garden upheaval, but the plant has remained in place other than having a layer of new top soil spread over the surface. It is watered regularly as the corner it is in dries out quickly. Any advice on what I could or should not be doing would be greatfully received.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Magnolia grandiflora  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.