Get to know this plant.
Identification clue 1
Large spring flowers
Identification clue 2
Simple alternate smooth-edged leaves
Identification clue 3
Fuzzy flower buds
Read the leaves
Leaves support the magnolia group; flower shape, flower timing, and provenance are needed for a named hybrid or cultivar.
More growing details
Read the bark
Smooth gray bark and encircling stipule scars on twigs provide supporting clues.
Fruit & seed
Cone-like aggregate fruits may develop, though fruit set varies among hybrid selections.
Winter character
Large silky flower buds distinguish the flower-bearing tips.
Origin & place
An introduced garden species or horticultural hybrid; study it as part of WNC landscapes rather than assume it belongs to the native mountain flora.
Compare with Other garden magnolias
Flower colors overlap and shift with weather; use several seasons plus the nursery label for a cultivar claim.
WNC Notes
Classic specimen; flowers are vulnerable to late freezes.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
20–30
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
20–30
BLOOM SEASON
Early spring
BLOOM COLOR
Pink-white
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Yellow-brown
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low