There are different types of magnolia trees, some are used in cultivation, shade trees and some in gardens. Magnolia trees types, uses, characteristics shared.
Although magnolia trees are slow growing trees that take 10 to 20 years. Still they have good demand in the market due to multiple uses. The timber is used for making furniture whereas bark, flowers and leaves are used for making oil, powder and medicine. There are different types of magnolia trees, some are used in cultivation such as M. grandiflora, M. virginiana, M. tripetala, M. acuminata and M. macrophylla.
Magnolia Trees types uses blooming times
Magnolia is a flowering plant species in the shrub family of Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. Magnolia species are found in two groups that are geographically different from each other.
The main centre is in east, south and southeast Asia and the secondary centre where magnolia trees are found is in North America, Central America, West Indies and South America. It is an ancient tree that started growing before bees evolved.
Magnolia trees characteristics
| Shrub or tree | Magnolia trees are spreading evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. |
| Flowers | Bowl or star shaped large fragrant flowers. |
| Flower colour | White, green, purple, pink, yellow. |
| Fruits shape | Cone like fruits. |
| Fruit producing time | Autumn. |
| Magnolia tree blooms | It’s a deciduous tree and deciduous species often bloom before the leaves in spring. |
Blooming magnolia tree flowering time
Blooming timing depends on magnolia trees types, varieties.
Early spring before the leaves open – Star magnolia (M. Stellata) and saucer magnolia (M x Soulangeana).
Late spring or early summer – Sweetbay magnolia (M. Virginiana) and Southern magnolia tree (M. Grandiflora).
Different flowering times for different species and sometimes they are also known as tulip magnolia trees.
Magnolia Trees types
- Southern magnolia tree (M. Grandiflora).
- Sweet bay magnolia tree (M. Virginiana).
- Ann magnolia tree.
- Pink magnolia tree.
- Little gem magnolia tree.
- Cucumber magnolia tree (M. acuminata).
- Dwarf magnolia tree.
- Saucer magnolia tree (M. x soulangeana).
- Star magnolia tree (Stellata).
Some important magnolia tree varieties are given below with brief explanation.
Southern magnolia tree
Var. Foetida was renamed as magnolia grandiflora and it is commonly known as southern magnolia tree, southern magnolia grandiflora tree or bull bay. It is a magnoliaceae family tree native to the Southeastern United States from Virginia to Central Florida and West to East Texas. It is a large evergreen magnolia tree type of 27.5 m (90 ft) in height.
Sweet bay magnolia tree
Magnolia virginiana is now known as sweet bay magnolia tree. Actually magnolia glauca has the same type specimen as magnolia virginiana and as the latter is the first valid name therefore the species is now called magnolia virginiana or sweet bay magnolia.
Ann magnolia tree
It is a slow growing tree or shrub having slightly purple or red flowers that bloom mid April to early May. It is a small tree that grows up to 10 to 12 inches tall and wide. The tree with purple red flowers resembling tulip trees.
Pink magnolia tree
It is also called Loebner magnolia and Stellata. Ballerina is a blush pink tree with fragrant flowers that blooms in late winter or early spring. It grows up to 20 to 30 feet tall.
Little gem magnolia tree
Little gem magnolia is the dwarf version of Southern magnolia mostly grown in the southeastern United States.
Cucumber magnolia tree
Magnolia acuminate is commonly known as cucumber tree, cucumber magnolia or blue magnolia. It is one of the cold hardiest and largest magnolia trees. It is a large forest tree mostly grown in the Eastern United States and Southern Ontario in Canada.
Dwarf magnolia tree
This is the small version of magnolia trees. Little gem magnolia is the dwarf type of magnolia tree (Southern magnolia).
Saucer magnolia tree
Saucer tree is also known as M. x soulangeana and sometimes tulip magnolia tree. It is a deciduous tree with large early blooming flowers of white, pink and purple colour. It is commonly used in horticulture, widely planted in the British Isles especially in the South England and in the US especially in the east and west coasts.
Star magnolia tree
Star magnolia is a slow growing deciduous shrub or small tree native to Japan also called magnolia Stellata.
So, these were the different types of magnolia trees.
Magnolia tree uses
Used for gardening
It is in high demand in America and European countries as a garden plant. Most popular garden magnolia is M. x soulangeana, which is a hybrid of M. liliflora and M. denudata.
M grandiflora petals are used as a spicy condiment in England.
In Asia the plant buds are pickled and used to flavour rice and scent tea.
In Japan the young magnolia leaf and flower buds are broiled and eaten as vegetables. Whereas older leaves are used to make powder and used as seasoning dried.
Medicine
Bark and flower buds of the tree are used as medicine.
Timber
The cucumbertree (M. acuminata) is a large tree and harvested as a timber tree in the North Eastern US. M. acuminata wood is sold as a yellow popular along with tulip trees. Sometimes Fraser magnolia also grows large in size and harvested for Timber.
Magnolia trees species used in cultivation
In the Eastern United States 5 native species are majorly used in cultivation: M. grandiflora, M. virginiana, M. tripetala, M. acuminata and M. macrophylla. M. acuminata is planted as a shade tree. M. tripetala and M. macrophylla have large leaves so don’t plant them in the high wind area.
Magnolia tree cost profit in cultivation is quite impressive. The people growing this tree may think about its farming.
Magnolia tree for sale in India
Magnolia grandiflora tree for sale in Indian nurseries Mubarak nursery roorkee, Uttarakhand and in Delhi nursery near ITO.
Conclusion – After reading this blog one can understand different types of magnolia trees, their characteristics, blooming times and uses etc.