Magnolia pyramidata

Michael's Opinion

I like Magnolias and I somehow chose one of the rarest specimens possible to research. It did not disappoint with its flower and interesting foliage, but it certainly gave me a hard time researching adequate information. This Magnolia has made it itself hard to find and even harder to cultivate. My conclusion is that it is content to self-isolate and desires to be left alone, and perhaps it is best if we allow it to do so. An extremely localized and independent plant. I admire it.

Botanical Information

FamilyMagnoliaceae
GenusMagnolia
Speciespyramidata
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginNorth American. Sporadically localized throughout southern coastal states; Florida, Texas, and Georgia. Discovered by William Bartram in 1806.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer		The Magnoliaceae family has a history of ethnobotanical uses in southeastern indigenous peoples, using extracts from the bark and fruit of Magnolia species to create teas and tonics to relieve stomach ailments and upper respiratory congestion. M. macrophylla has notable usage, as well as M. virginiana. M. pyramidata does not have significant use by comparison.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone6 - 9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone7
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H5
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)(-21) - (-4)
Temperature (°F)(-5) - 30
Height10 - 17 m
Spread0.1 - 0.35 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodApril, May

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA small to medium sized tree localized in the southern United States of America; Florida, Texas, and Georgia. There is some debate about the overlap of M. fraseri and whether Magnolia pyramidata is a subspecies or of its own species entirely. The similarities are striking as fellow “bigleaf clan” specimens within the Magnoliaceae family. Magnolia pyramidata is proposed to be a smaller specimen than M. fraseri and less hardy, although neither have been researched to be typically thriving plants. The foliage and flower are its most striking attributes. Neither will be noteworthy if the plant eventually dies off from its native locality, as it is exceedingly rare outside of it.
ID CharacteristicClusters of ‘eared’ leaves in whorled arrangement.
ShapeOverall pyramidal shape with a slender trunk and densely whorled crown.
LandscapeIdeal use for specimen planting to draw attention to its unique leaves, dense foliage, attractive magnolia flower, and to help sustain the life of a rare endangered species.
PropagationSeed or semi-hardwood cuttings.
CultivationUnknown urban landscape use. Difficult to grow. Requires partial sun to full shade and moist soils with an acidic profile
PestsNo notable pests or diseases.
HabitatWoodlands, forested slopes, bordering ravines and southern coastal regions in the United States of America.
Bark/Stem DescriptionSmooth and whitish grey. Appears darker on new growth, burgundy-brown leading way to bright green stems.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionMaroon-coloured glabrous terminal bud up to 2-3 cm in size.
Leaf DescriptionBroad in whorled arrangement around the stem with entire margins. Green with yellow tinge to matte green. 18-25 cm long and 7-14 cm across. Leaves will encompass a single flower bloom in fan-like fashion.
Flower DescriptionMonoecious white flower appearing April-May, 7-12 cm across with 9 encompassing tepals. Creamy to off-white. Fragrant—in an unpleasant way.
Fruit DescriptionOval-shaped fruit aggregate turning to red-pink with red seeds in late summer to early autumn. 4-9 cm in length. Up to 3 cm in width.
Colour DescriptionUnremarkable autumn colour, typical yellowing and eventually turning brown nearing abscission period
Texture DescriptionMedium to coarse texture.

Photographs