Spotlight: Magnolia Trees
Photos by Elisha Braithwaite Photography
If we’re being honest, Magnolia Trees are some of our favorites here at GPL. Our Founder, Ulisses, has a couple in his home landscape and the entire team has grown pretty fond of them too. With its southern charm, it’s bound to become loved by all. Here’s a rundown on some Magnolia history, care tips, and much more —
where they originate
Magnolia Trees are home to the southern states of the United States. There are many different kinds of Magnolias and they all bloom magnificent, unique, and fragrant flowers. Even better, they are very receptive to diverse environments; they can truly be grown in any part of the U.S. and even in various parts of the world!
various magnolia species
Magnolia Trees come from the family of Magnoliaceae. The most popular type is named the Magnolia grandiflora and it’s the Magnolia pictured here in this blog! You can identify it by its large, green, and glossy leaves, along with its large iconic white flower. However, there are many other absolutely breathtaking Magnolia Trees that we want to share with you. Here they are some of the most well known and popular types:
Cucumber Tree | Magnolia acuminata
Star Magnolia | Magnolia stellata
Sweetbay Magnolia | Magnolia virginiana
Saucer Magnolia | Magnolia soulangiana
Loebner Magnolia | Magnolia lobneri
how to care for them
Caring for Magnolia Trees begins with your planting methods. These trees grow very large, so once planted, it will be pretty difficult to relocate them. So first and foremost, make sure they are planted in rich, thoroughly drained soil so they can grow healthily. Additionally, because they grow fairly large, they will need lots of room to spread their roots and branches. It’s best to not plant them close to other friends. Each type of Magnolia requires different growing conditions and care, so make sure to research a bit more to find the one that suits your environment and lifestyle the best!
Here are some other key care tips:
Magnolias rarely have pest problems and aren’t prone to disease, so if you are encountering problems, it most likely has to do with soggy soil or lack of light
Magnolias love direct sun and can still thrive in partial shade
Magnolias need to be watered regularly
Magnolias need minimal pruning; the optimal time to prune is following its blooming season
After planting a Magnolia Tree, careful to not step around its roots too much as it they can become agitated by soil compression
other interesting facts about magnolias
The iconic white flower found on the popular Magnolia grandiflora is the state flower of Mississippi and Louisiana!
Magnolia trees can grow up to seventy feet (sometimes even higher)!
Their branches can spread out up to forty feet!
Magnolias are said to be the longest living plant, so much so that they were here before bees, which means their pollinators are not bees, but rather, beetles!
The Magnolia Tree lifespan is around 100 years if given the proper care
Magnolias are very low maintenance and resilient to external threats, so this is a great addition to any landscape if you have the space for it