Native Magnolia Trees In Mississippi (5 Varieties)
Magnolia trees are an important part of Mississippi’s culture and landscape. These magnificent trees, with their fragrant blossoms and glossy evergreen leaves, have been a treasured sight for generations across the state. Magnolias are a testament to the region’s deep-rooted history and natural beauty, whether they line the historic streets of small towns or adorn grand plantations.
And, if you want an amazing flowering tree for your back or front yard, magnolia trees are an excellent choice. To make your decision easier, we have provided a list of the top 5 magnolia trees in Mississippi, along with detailed descriptions.
Let’s begin.
1. Southern Magnolia
- Common Name: Southern Magnolia
- Scientific Name: Magnolia grandiflora L.
- Mature Height: Up to 100 feet
- Native Range: Eastern North Carolina to central Florida, the southern half of Gulf coastal states into southeast Texas
- Flowers/Cones/Fruit: Large, fragrant, white flowers with petals measuring 3-4 inches long; orange-red cylindrical fruit
- Uses: Timber (for furniture, paneling, veneer, cabinet work), eaten by squirrel, opossum, quail, and turkey
Southern Magnolia, also known as the evergreen magnolia is one of the tallest magnolia trees in Mississippi that can reach heights of 100 feet.
It has simple leaves that are dark green on top and rusty crimson underneath. The tree bears huge, fragrant white flowers 6 to 8 inches in diameter. These blooms attract a variety of creatures that consume the seeds, including squirrels, opossums, quails, and turkeys. In addition, the tree produces orange-red fruit in the form of cylindrical pods.
Southern Magnolias grow in fertile bottomlands or on moderate slopes in the southern United States, primarily in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. They can withstand shade and are drought-tolerant. The tree has a lifespan of more than 100 years.
Southern Magnolia is treasured not just for its beauty, but also for its timber. It is cut in small amounts and used to make furniture, paneling, veneer, and cabinets. It is a common ornamental tree in cities.
Furthermore, numerous elements of the tree, including its leaves, fruit, bark, and wood, have potential pharmacological applications. This suggests they could have health benefits and be utilized to manufacture medicine.
2. Bigleaf Magnolia
- Common Name: Big Leaf Magnolia
- Scientific Name: Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
- Mature Height: 50.0 feet
- Native Range: Central North Carolina to eastern Louisiana, pockets in Georgia, South Carolina, and northwestern Florida, and parts of Mississippi
- Flowers/Cones/Fruit: Cone-like fruit called aggregate of follicles, rose-colored; large white flowers with a rose-colored blotch at the base
- Uses: Not used for wildlife or timber; may be used as a specimen tree in landscaping
One of the shortest magnolia trees in Mississippi, the big-leaf magnolia, is a tree with big, green leaves that can grow up to 30 inches long. The leaves are bright green on top and silvery gray on the underside.
The tree features huge buds and small yellow-green twigs. It has cone-shaped fruits about 3 inches long and with compressed seeds. Large white flowers with a rose-colored splotch appear on the tree.
The Big Leaf Magnolia can be found in various states, including North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana, where it grows in rich, mesic woodlands. It is most common in Mississippi, particularly in coastal and river-bound regions. The tree has no use for wildlife or wood. It can, however, be used as a specimen tree in landscaping, but it takes 12-15 years to bloom.
The blooms and fruit are lovely, but the huge leaves, which degrade slowly, can cause trash.
3. Sweetbay Magnolia
- Common Name: Sweetbay Magnolia
- Scientific Name: Magnolia virginiana L.
- Mature Height: Up to 60 feet
- Native Range: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains from Long Island to southern Florida, and west to eastern Texas
- Flowers/Cones/Fruit: White flowers with a diameter of 2.0 to 3.0 inches; red fruit that hangs from open pods
- Uses: Wildlife food, landscaping projects
Sweetbay Magnolia, also known as swamp-bay, white-bay, or sweet magnolia, is a stunning tree that can reach heights of 60 feet. It has oblong-shaped leaves that are dull green on top and silvery on the underside.
The leaves have a pungent scent. The tree produces fragrant white flowers that range in size from 2.0 to 3.0 inches. These blossoms mature into crimson berries that hang from open pods. The Sweetbay Magnolia can be found on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains in low, damp forests and river floodplains.
Because of its open appearance and fragrant flowers, it is also often employed in landscaping. This tree’s leaves and twigs are popular for deer and cattle, as well as gray squirrels, white-footed mice, wild turkey, quail, and songbirds.
While the Sweetbay Magnolia has little economic value in terms of lumber, it is nonetheless harvested and used for the same purposes as other magnolias.
4. Umbrella Magnolia
- Common Name: Umbrella Magnolia
- Scientific Name: Magnolia tripetala L.
- Mature Height: 30 ft.
- Native Range: New York and Massachusetts to Florida; west through Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri; northeast to Indiana
- Flowers/Cones/Fruit: Cup-shaped white flowers with a disagreeable odor; conelike, glabrous fruit
- Uses: Medium palatability for browsing and grazing animals; no economic value as a timber product
Umbrella Magnolias are the shortest magnolia trees in Mississippi with a maximum height of 30ft. It is also known as the umbrella tree or elkwood, a species of tree that grows along the Coastal Plain and Piedmont Plateau in damp, fertile bottomlands or along streams.
The Umbrella Magnolia’s leaves are simple, alternating, and deciduous. They are terminally crowded on the twig and are 18-30 inches long and 8-10 inches broad. The leaves are green on top and pale on the bottom. The tree’s bark is gray, thin, and smooth, but it gets shallowly furrowed as it ages.
The Umbrella Magnolia has huge, cup-shaped white blossoms with an unpleasant odor. The flowers are roughly 10-12 inches in diameter and feature 6 or 9 6-10 inch long petals. The tree also produces 2-3 inch large conelike fruits. The seeds inside the fruit are oblong and around 0.5 inches long.
The Umbrella Magnolia is endemic to several eastern states, including New York and Massachusetts, as well as Florida and Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Indiana has it as well. It can be produced from seeds or bare roots and is not widely used in landscaping.
While the Umbrella Magnolia has little wood value, it is a valuable source of forage and pasture for animals. However, it is just mildly appealing to them. It is also worth noting that the Umbrella Magnolia is threatened in some places, like Florida and Indiana, and rare in others, including Pennsylvania.
5. Cucumber Magnolia
- Common Name: Cucumber Magnolia
- Scientific Name: Magnolia acuminata L.
- Mature Height: 100.0 feet
- Native Range: Western New York to southeastern Oklahoma, south to Louisiana, and east to central Georgia
- Flowers/Cones/Fruit: The tree produces bell-shaped, greenish-yellow flowers and oblong, red fruits that resemble cucumbers.
- Uses: For ornamental purposes and wildlife foods, wood is durable and often used for pallets, crates, furniture, and various other products.
Cucumber Magnolia, also known as yellow-flower magnolia or mountain magnolia, is a deciduous tree that can reach heights of 100 feet. This tree’s leaves are simple, alternating, and elongated, with a yellow-green tint on top and a paler color underneath. The twigs are reddish-brown and robust, with tiny lenticels and horseshoe-shaped leaf scars. The tree produces silky-haired oblong-ovoid buds.
Cucumber Magnolia blooms with 2 to 3-inch diameter bell-shaped greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers have six petals and are flawless, which means they contain both male and female parts. The tree also bears oblong, crimson fruits that resemble cucumbers and with seeds dangling from the ovary wall.
This tree grows on low slopes and stream banks in moist, deep, and rich soils. It is native to several states, including western New York, Louisiana, and Florida. Birds and rats eat the seeds, while grackles and blackbirds eat the immature fruits, twigs, leaves, and buds. Deer also eat this tree’s twigs, leaves, and buds. Cucumber Magnolia wood is robust and straight-grained, comparable to yellow poplar, and is used for a variety of purposes including furniture, plywood, and interior trim.
The Cucumber Magnolia is regarded for its decorative qualities in addition to its functions. It features beautiful flowers, lovely leaves, and unique bark, making it an appealing landscape choice. It is the hardiest of the native tree-size magnolias and sprouts quickly; it is frequently used as grafting root material and as an ornamental plant. It is, however, vulnerable to ground fires and frost.
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Magnolia Trees In Mississippi – Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Native Trees For Mississippi Landscapes, Mississippi State University Extension.
- Mississippi Trees, Publications Of Mississippi Forestry Commission.
- Department Of Plant & Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University Extension.
- Tree Care, Mississippi Urban Forest Council.
