SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA

Native to Georgia

Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora

Family: magnoliaceae

Magnolias are one of the world's oldest flowering plant species, evolving before bees existed and relying on beetles for pollination.  It is a symbol of Luck in Georgia!

The Southern magnolia has a rich history intertwined with the American South. It's a symbol of the region, with its iconic large, fragrant flowers, and has been cultivated and admired for centuries. Its name honors French botanist, Pierre Magnol, and it has been planted worldwide, becoming a popular ornamental tree. 

White magnolia flower with green leaves in the background.

The large white fragrant pure white flowers are the most recognizable trait. They are abundant blooming which creates beauty from early April to as late as the end of October.

Large tree with dense green leaves in front of a house with a metal roof, a red vehicle parked nearby, and bushes on a well-maintained lawn.

This beautiful historically significant, Southern Magnolia, specimen tree is on our Learning Loop Tree Collection.

It is can be seen anytime at

175 Bridge Street, Age: 175 years old

Circa 1850

Two large evergreen trees with dense green foliage, situated side by side in a park with a path and a bench between them.

The Oldest Southern Magnolia in the United States

Washington State Park, Arkansas

A white sign in a park indicates a magnolia tree planted in 1839, with a request not to climb, at Historic Washington State Park.
A pinecone with small insects on and around it attached to a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of green and brown magnolia leaves, some with brown, dried edges.

Leathery like leaves with a cinnamon velvet reverse

Magnolia Flower Pods