Woody > Magnolia > Magnolia fraseri > Magnolia fraseri
Magnolia fraseri
Origin: This beautiful tree was named after a Scottish Botanist named John Fraser. It originates in the surrounding area of the Appalachian Mountains, South East United States. This includes: West Virginia, East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, North-West South Carolina, North-East Georgia, Blue Ridge Mountains and Cumberland Mountains.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Magnolia fraseri is a beautiful flowering tree used by wildlife for feeding. It can be used as an ornamental for its very well loved blooms and very colourful fruit. I admire the foliage the most on this tree, as it can resemble a tropical plant, which I am very fond of.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Magnoliaceae |
| Genus |
| Magnolia |
| Species |
| fraseri |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6 - 10 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-1) - 24 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 30 - 75 |
| Height |
| 9 - 20 m |
| Spread |
| 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Magnolia fraseri is an oval shaped small to medium flowering tree with a pyramidal head. It is found in the Appalachian region and is known for its massive and fragrant flowers. It is multi trunked and features showy large leaves that can grow up to 30 cm in length. The bark is smooth and grey-brown in colour, sometimes the texture can be warty. The fruit is an attractive red or pink colour and is used as a food source for wildlife. |
| Landscape |
| This tree is not commonly used in landscaping, however it is a great ornamental or specimen when used in a small yard/landscape. This tree can give a tropical look, due to its whorled, large lobed leaves and very attractive flowers. It is used by pollinators and is a great option for a cool shade underneath. |
| Cultivation |
| Full sun to partial shade. This tree can tolerate many different types of soil situations, but will do its best in moist, acidic soil. It is ideal to cultivate this tree in protected areas, however it will still grow in unsheltered places but will come with slower and stunted growth. |
| Shape |
| Oval shape with a slight pyramidal crown. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| This tree is oval shaped with large showy and fragrant flowers, whorled, long and lobed tropical looking leaves, and smooth grey-brown bark. |
| Pests |
| Due to this tree’s thin, smooth bark, it can be susceptible to the root collar borer moth which burrows at the base of these trees. It can also be attacked by the ambrosia beetle, which makes tunnels in the wood and larval cradles. June beetles feed on the foliage of the tree while the larvae feed on the roots. This tree can often die from insect attacks. Leaves can develop powdery mildew, as well as mature leaves developing leaf spot. |
| Habitat |
| Found in the Appalachian Mountain region, these trees can be naturally found in the lower third of this mountainous terrain. They are often in valleys protected by surrounding hills and other elements. This region's soil is moist and acidic and can be seen among Red Oaks, Hemlocks and Tulip Poplar. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| This tree’s bark is very smooth as a young tree, then develops a somewhat warty lenticel texture as it ages. The bark is splotched with different shades of grey and brown. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The terminal buds on the stems of this tree are about 4 cm long. They are smooth and a purplish colour. The flower buds are also around 4 cm long and are green in colour, before opening up into its full flower form and changing to its creamy white colour. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves of the Fraser Magnolia have a simple, oblong, ovate shape. They are in a whorled arrangement and have up to eight leaves per node. The venation is pinnate. In length, they will grow up to 30 cm. In width they will span around half of their length. They are bright green with a smooth surface, and a smooth entire margin. At the base of the leaf, it is lobed on both sides of each petiole. They are narrow near the petiole, very wide in the centre and gradually narrow out again at the tip. As seasons change to colder months, the leaves become yellow, then brown before dropping. |
| Flower Description |
| The Fraser Magnolia is loved for its massive cup shaped creamy white flowers. The flowers have a sweet, slightly lemony scent and are in bloom from late April to mid June. The flowers are composite and can grow up to 30 cm wide. Each flower has six to nine obovate-spatulate petals. The petals are in a whorled arrangement. |
| Fruit Description |
| The fruit is oblong and cone-like, attractively red or pink and can grow up to 10 cm long and about 5 cm wide. It has a fleshy texture and has large follicles for seed bearing. It appears after the flowering period, and is in its full form in late summer to early autumn. It is a popular food source among wildlife. |
| Colour Description |
| The bark of this tree is a splotchy grey-brown. During the spring, the new leaves that sprout are a very light, almost neon shiny green. As the leaves mature, they reach a dark green. During the autumn season the leaves change to yellow, then to brown. The flowers are usually a creamy white but sometimes can have hints of pink or green in the petals. After the flowering period, the fruit develops. Starting with a greenish pink, later on it will change to a bright pink or red. At the end of the season, the fruit starts to shrink and brown, while the seeds are coated in their red or pink flesh and pushed from the meat part of the fruit. At this stage, the protruding coloured seeds are very attractive to birds as a food source. |
| Texture Description |
| This tree’s bark is fine with a slightly warty texture. The leaves are smooth and the fruit is fleshy. After the fruiting period, the fruit develops a soft fuzzy layer. |
| Notable Specimens |
| This tree can be found at the Asheville Botanical Garden in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. |
| Propagation |
| The red or pink seeds collected in autumn from the fruit of this tree can be soaked in water for 24 hours. After the 24 hours have passed, the outer fleshy layer of the seed can be pinched to reveal a black seed inside. The black seeds can be placed into a container on top of fresh soil, then covered by a light layer of more soil. Spray with water and cover the container with a sealed lid, then keep the container in a refrigerator for 90 - 120 days. Once the seeds have sprouted after the 90+ days, they can be sown in soil with an airy light mixture of peat and perlite. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The Fraser Magnolia isn't often used as anything other than an ornamental, however the wood can be used as pulpwood since it is light and weak when there are no other alternatives. |
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