Magnolia species are some of the most popular trees for landscapes and homesteads. These beautiful tree varieties grow large, fragrant flowers in spring and provide long-lasting shade through the summer and autumn. Unfortunately, Magnolia species are also the source of a lot of confusion among amateur gardeners and landscapers who think theyג€™ve encountered an unusual variety when they havenג€™t.
Magnolias are one of the most popular tree species because they have many desirable traits in a single tree. They grow well in moist, sandy or poor soil conditions; they tolerate drought well; they grow fast; their leaves change color in fall ג€” often strikingly so ג€” to signal readiness for winter; and they produce showy flowers throughout much of the year.
How Do I Know What Kind of Magnolia Tree I Have?
One of the most common mistakes made by amateur gardeners and landscapers is to mistake a hybrid Magnolia species for an ordinary Magnolia. A hybrid is a cross between two different varieties of the same genus, and there are many different types of hybrids. But an ordinary Magnolia is the species, not the hybrid.
The easiest way to tell if youג€™ve got an ordinary Magnolia or a hybrid is by looking at the bark. All members of the tree family Pinaceae have scaly bark with thick horizontal lines running through it that make it look three-dimensional. (All members also have needles growing from their leaves.) If you see this type of bark, chances are good that youג€™ve got an ordinary Magnolia on your hands.
If there arenג€™t any obvious lines in the bark, you can still use other characteristics to identify what kind of tree youג€™ve got:
What Is the Rarest Magnolia Tree?
The rarest Magnolia species is the Magnolia obovata. This tree grows to be about 10-20 feet tall and has a more compact shape than most other magnolias. It grows in temperate climates and produces large, showy flowers in spring that turn into small, green fruit surrounded by yellow petals.
Although not widely known, the Magnolia obovata is an extremely hardy tree and can survive harsh winters, which makes it perfect for planting in areas where the climate is relatively mild and winter temperatures are still cold enough for this variety to thrive.
What Is the Most Common Magnolia Tree?
The most popular Magnolia species is the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). This tree is also known as the “Queen of the South.” The other most popular Magnolia species are the Sweetbay and Watermellon Magnolia.
If you want to know whether a tree in your garden is a Magnolia, look for clues on its leaves. The leaves of the Southern Magnolia are large and broadly oval-shaped, often with an indented vein pattern running down their length. If you see that pattern, it’s likely that this tree is a Southern Magnolia, so don’t be surprised if it starts flowering around allergy season.
If you’re not sure what variety of Magnolia you’re looking at and want to identify it by name, search for images of its flowers on Google Images or Google Scholar. There are many varieties of this particular species that can be easily identified from their flowers alone.
What Do Purple Magnolias Symbolize?
A purple magnolia is a special variety of the white, pink, or red type. They are often referred to as ג€_x009c_purpleג€_x009d_ magnolias because they are not in the same category as the other types. The flower color of a purple magnolia is much darker than that of its counterparts and can be anywhere from dark pink to deep red-violet.
When people see a purple magnolia, many often wonder what it means. Can it symbolize anything? Some say that this particular variety represents hope for the future or that it stands for an individual who has reached their greatest potential.
