Growth form: Southern Magnolia is a woody evergreen tree, typically 50 to 90 feet tall, with thick and leathery leaves and white flowers.
Leaves, twigs, and bark: Leaves of southern magnolia have pinnate veination "are simple, opposite, and entire," typically 4 to 8 inches long, and oval or elliptical shape. In fall, leaves turn a pale, golden yellow. Twigs are stout and gray. Bark is dark grayish-brown, often with reddish scales. Twigs are tyipcally stout.
Leaves of Southern Magnolia showing opposite leaf arrangement, entire margins, and oval shape. (Photos by S. Houck 10/24/2019)
Flowers: Southern magnolia blooms from late spring to fall. Flowers are white and fragrant, 6-8 inches long. Male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. The flowers may have 6-15 petals.
Seed Pod of Southern Magnolia
Image from (Creative Commons)
Fruits: Female trees produce clusters of dark blue, oval-shaped fruits in late summer. Each fruit is less than an inch long and has a hard, stony pit. Botanically, this fruit type is known as a "drupe". Fruits are an important food source for many birds and wildlife species.
Native range and habitat: Southern Magnolia is introduced throughout eastern and south-central North America.
Distribution of Southern Magnolia across Virginia counties (VA Botanical Associates, 2019)
Plant Family: Describe plant family characteristics and related species...
Ecologic Importance and Uses:
Edible and Medicinal Uses: The bark of the Southern Magnolia was used by the Choctaw Indians as a skin wash for a variety of ailments that include itching and sores.
Wildlife: Squirrel, opossum, quail, turkey, mice, and chipmunks eat the seeds produced by the Southern Magnolia. The seeds produced by this tree are high in fat and are often eaten by migratory birds.
Gardens and Landscaping: Rarely used for gardens but is mostly used for yards.
Campus Specimens - Southern Magnolia Trees
State and national champions? The largest southern magnolia in the country is located in Delta National Forest . This national champion has a trunk circumference of 205 inches, height of 135 feet, and crown spread of 68 feet. Resulting in a total of 357 points. The Virginia state champion Southern Magnolia tree is located in Virginia Beach, VA and has a circumference of 256 inches, height of 80 feet, and crown spread of 80 feet, for a total of 356 points.
At Radford University, five southern magnolia trees can be found on campus (highlighted circle below). All are on the Moffett Quad facing Pochontas Hall
Tree #669
Trunk circumference: 85 inches
Tree height: 37 feet
Crown spread: 44.3 feet x 40.5 feet Average = 42.4 feet
Total points:
Tree #670
Trunk circumference: 76 inches
Tree height: 38.6 feet
Crown spread: 36.5 feet x 30.8 feet Average crown spread = 33.6 feet
Total points:
Tree #671
Trunk circumference: 75 inches
Tree height: 40 feet
Crown spread: 37.5 feet x 38.9 feet Average crown spread = 38.2 feet
Total points:
Tree #672
Trunk circumference: 62 inches
Tree height: 38.7 feet
Crown spread: 28.6 feet x 31.7 feet Average crown spread = 60.3 feet
Total points:
Tree #673
Trunk circumference: 86 inches
Tree height: 42.4 feet
Crown spread: 32.2 feet x 31.9 feet Average crown spread = 32.05 feet
Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. (2019). Fringe Tree Fact Sheet, Virginia Tech Dendrology. dendro.cnre.vt.edu/DENDROLOGY/factsheets.cfm
Page created by: Samantha Houck, Radford University (2019).