Magnolia virginiana var. australis


Botanical Information

FamilyMagnoliaceae
GenusMagnolia
Speciesvirginiana
Varietyaustralis
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
OriginM. virginiana var. australis is much taller than M. virginiana occurs further south, typically has more fragrant flowers and is likely to be evergreen.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Height15 m in cultivation but over 30 m in the wild.
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodJune

Description and Growing Information

ShapeAn open crowned plant.
CultivationAlthough it is often found growing in wet or swampy soils it is very tolerant of dry soils and sunny locales.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark is a greyish colour.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are oblong-lanceolate, shiny green adaxial and silvery abaxial. Foliage is evergreen in the South and semi-evergreen to deciduous in northerly limits of its range.
Flower DescriptionCup-shaped, with a slight lemon fragrance, 9-12 petaled, creamy white flowers that are 5 - 10 cm in diameter and appear in mid-spring but continue sporadically throughout the summer.
Fruit DescriptionThe fruit, which is quite showy, is cone-like containing bright red seeds that ripen in autumn.

Photographs