Southern Magnolia

Our southern magnolia trees are Magnolia grandiflora, the big evergreen magnolia of the South, with glossy leaves all year and creamy, fragrant flowers that can span a foot. We ship bare-root trees in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for estates, streetscapes, screens and wholesale growers.

Southern Magnolia Size, Zones and Sun

Mature trees reach 60 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide, so this is a specimen for a big yard or a street with room. Growth is medium. It's hardy in zones 6 to 10. In the wild it's often an understory tree, which is why it takes part shade as well as full sun. Clay, loam and rich organic soils all work, acid to alkaline, as long as drainage is good. Moist ground is fine, swampy ground isn't.

Southern Magnolia Flowers, Leaves and Fruit

The flowers are creamy white and big, often 8 to 12 inches across, and they're fragrant. Most of the bloom comes in May and June, with a few more showing up here and there over the summer. The leaves stay on all year: thick, glossy and dark green on top, rusty and fuzzy underneath, about 5 to 10 inches long. By early fall the seed cones ripen and split open, and bright red seeds dangle from them on thin threads.

Southern Magnolia and Wildlife

Birds and small mammals eat the seeds, and the dense evergreen foliage gives cover in winter and rough weather. Pollinators visit the flowers. It's a tree that keeps working for wildlife when most others have dropped their leaves.

Where to Plant Southern Magnolia

Use it as a lawn specimen, a screen or a tall backdrop, anywhere you want evergreen shape in winter. Give it space, because it gets big. Our wholesale buying notes on southern magnolia care cover spacing and minimums, and low-upkeep evergreens suited to Tennessee lists good partners for it.

Good to Know About Southern Magnolia

Southern magnolia drops leaves in both fall and spring, so plan on some raking. Many growers chop the leaves with a mower and spread them back under the branches as mulch. Keep the roots damp until planting and water through the first season. Scale insects and sooty mold turn up occasionally.

Planting Southern Magnolia Bare-root

Magnolia roots are thick and fleshy and dry out quickly, so keep them wrapped and damp until the hole is ready. Plant at the same depth the tree grew, don't bury the root flare, and water deeply once a week through the first season if rain is short. A 3-inch mulch ring helps hold moisture. Pick the final spot with care, since a magnolia doesn't like being moved.

Using Southern Magnolia in Landscape Projects

Southern magnolia anchors estate entrances, courtyards, church grounds, campuses and long driveways, and a row of them makes a dense evergreen screen. Space the row 25 to 30 feet apart and the crowns will eventually meet. The evergreen leaves keep a property looking furnished in January, when most trees are bare.

Southern Magnolia Tree Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Southern magnolia trees ship bare-root in November, in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale trees for sale.