NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Magnolia macrophylla
Big Leaf Magnolia, Large-leaved Cucumber Tree
Scientific Name: |
Magnolia macrophylla |
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Genus: |
Magnolia |
Species Epithet: |
macrophylla |
Common Name: |
Big Leaf Magnolia, Large-leaved Cucumber Tree |
Plant Type |
Tree |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Size: |
36-72 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
White |
Light: |
Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Dry |
Bloom Time: |
May, June |
Growing Area: |
Mountains |
Habitat Description: |
Mesic forests, primarily over limestone, other calcareous sedimentary rocks (calcareous shales, sandstones, etc.), or mafic rocks (east of the Blue Ridge); rare…The range of this species is often stated in such a way as to imply that it is a tree of the southern mountains. Actually, it avoids the Southern Blue Ridge, reaching its greatest abundance in the sedimentary rock Appalachians west of the Blue Ridge, particularly the Cumberland Plateau, and occurs east of the Blue Ridge only as a rare disjunct (Weakley 2015). Rare in the NC Piedmont. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Alternate |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Simple |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Has some wildlife value |
Landscape Value: |
Suitable for home landscapes |
State Rank: |
S2: Imperiled (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G5 - Secure (*Key) |
State Status: |
SC-V: Special Concern: Vulnerable (*Key) |
Notes: |
The leaves are the largest deciduous leaf outside the tropics, with lengths reaching 32 inches and widths of 12 inches. The trees are sometimes confused with Magnolia tripeleta. M. macrophylla has 2 rounded lobes at the base of each leaf, whereas M. tripeleta lacks these lobes. |
Red Lair Farm and Forest |
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Red Lair Farm and Forest |
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Red Lair Farm and Forest |
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Larry Mellichamp |
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Larry Mellichamp |
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Larry Mellichamp |
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Well Larry Mellichamp is in the picture, but I am not sure who took the picture! |
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Larry Mellichamp |
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Links: |
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