Large-leaved cucumber tree (Magnolia macrophylla)

Features and Characteristics

Magnolia macrophylla, commonly called bigleaf magnolia, is noted for its huge oblong-obovate leaves (to 30 inches long) which are the largest simple leaves of any tree indigenous to North America. Leaves are green above and silvery-gray below. This unusual tree is rarely found in the wild, being limited mainly to a few rich wooded areas in river valleys and ravines in the southeastern United States. It is a pyramidal tree that develops a spreading rounded crown with age, typically growing 30-40’ tall. Fragrant, open, cup-shaped flowers to 8-10” (less frequently to 12”) wide bloom in May. Flowers are white with rose-purple at the petal bases. Although quite large, the flowers are often located far off the ground and are not always easy to see close up. Flowers give way to spherical cone-like fruits which mature to red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity.

Genus name honors Pierre Magnol, French botanist (1638-171- .

Specific epithet is from the Greek words macro meaning large and phyllon meaning leaf in reference to the huge leaves.