Spectacular trees all year long
April 2025
Magnolia flowers are characterized by spirally arranged multiple parts. (courtesy Darien Cugley via Flickr)
by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist
Magnolias are justly admired for their striking, fragrant spring flowers. While red maple, serviceberry and other trees bloom earlier, a magnolia on your property likely takes center stage once its large blossoms unfold. Members of the genus Magnolia can be found in North, Central and South America, as well as in Southeast Asia; five species are native to our region, with others either naturalized or planted as ornamentals.
Botanists consider magnolias to be primitive. They are among our most ancient flowering plants, dating back about 100 million years. In addition to fossils, other evidence of their antiquity comes from floral traits, such as the spiral arrangement of their reproductive structures and the presence of many petal-like structures — more appropriately called tepals since they lack distinct differences between outer sepals and inner petals found in so many other flowers.
Flowers of our native magnolias may be white, creamy white, pale yellow or yellow-green, while flowers of many hybrids and cultivars come in shades of pink, purple, and red. And magnolia flowers are large — up to twelve inches in diameter for Bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla). The flowers of our native species may be odorless, as in Cucumbertree (M. acuminata), unpleasantly aromatic (Umbrellatree, M. tripetala), or pleasantly fragrant as in Bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla), Sweetbay (M. virginiana) and Mountain magnolia (M. fraseri). Of course, what is considered pleasant is in the nose of the beholder.
And then there are the leaves. The leaves of Cucumbertree, Mountain magnolia and Southern magnolia can exceed 10 inches in length; those of Umbrellatree can reach up to 20 inches long; and Bigleaf magnolia leaves may be 30 inches or more. The leaves of Southern magnolia, and sometimes Sweetbay, are evergreen, creating a striking contrast against winter’s snow.
You may appreciate magnolias primarily for their flowers or leaves, but be sure not to overlook their fruits and seeds. The 2- to 5-inch long cone-shaped fruits mature in late summer. When ripe, they open to display striking, orange-to-red seeds hanging on sticky threads. A variety of birds and small mammals eat these seeds and threads.
Although closely related, our five native magnolias each prefer different habitats and are generally found more frequently farther south. Cucumbertree thrives in various locations across the western mountains and valleys; Fraser magnolia favors rich coves and mountain slopes in southwest Virginia; Umbrellatree is scattered throughout the mountains of western Virginia and farther south, while being less common to the east; Sweetbay flourishes along swamp edges and in low, wet areas, particularly along the coast; and Bigleaf magnolia can be found in extreme southwest Virginia. Southern magnolia, native to the southeastern U.S., is widely planted throughout our area and has escaped cultivation, becoming naturalized.
Magnolia wood is soft and weak and has only occasionally been used to manufacture items such as boxes and crates. Magnolia leaves are important hosts for a variety of butterflies and moths, while deer browse the leaves and twigs. However, by far, the most important economic use for this group is in the nursery and landscaping trade. Lucky is the homeowner who has a mature magnolia, a tree that can and should be appreciated no matter the season.
Steve Carroll is a botanist and ecologist who writes about trees, gardening and the world of plants. He is the co-author of “Ecology for Gardeners,” published by Timber Press.