Southern magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Dinner-plate flowers that smell of lemon; pollinated by beetles, older than bees.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 10
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 60 ft tall, 30 ft wide
From: SE United States
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Southeast. Hardy in zones 6 to 10.
The story
Magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants on Earth. They opened their first blooms before bees existed, so the flowers are built tough for clumsy beetles. Southern magnolia is the state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana.
Planting
Sun or part shade and rich, moist, acid soil. Give it room and let the branches sweep the ground.
Growing
Water in drought while young. Leave the fallen leaves under the skirt of branches as mulch.
Harvest and use
Lemon-scented white flowers through summer, then cones of red seeds that birds and squirrels pick clean.
What to watch for
Leathery leaves drop all year and are slow to rot. Cold winds burn it at the northern edge.
See if Southern magnolia fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home