Evergreen Magnolia (Southern Magnolia)
Magnolia grandiflora
Learn about the evergreen magnolia (southern magnolia) including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Family: Magnoliaceae
Type
Evergreen
Flowering
Size
Large (greater than 50 feet)
Traits
- Glossy football-shaped leaves that are 6-8 inches long, often with a red-brown fuzz on the underside
- Giant white, lemon-scented blossoms from May through October
- Bright red, cone-like fruit in fall and winter
- Smooth, gray bark
Native Range
- Southeastern United States
Story of the Tree
You can best see this tree from the Legislative Building’s east walkways, then stroll along the east wall of the Temple of Justice to observe two slightly different specimens. The tree growing due east of the Legislative Building is part of the original Olmsted Brothers tree plan.
This eye-catching tree comes from the Deep South of the U.S.
From May through October, this tree features giant white blossoms, sometimes reaching 14 inches wide. The flowers sit atop bold, glossy leaves, which often have a reddish-brown fuzz.
