Bloomipedia
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Photo: mfeaver via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

Southern magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a tree in the Magnoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering treeNative in the lower 48

Southern magnolia is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 38 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

14states where USDA records it
38Bloomipedia state lists include it
23,175U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

Quick look

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly known as the southern magnolia or bull bay, is a flowering tree in the family Magnoliaceae native to the Southeastern United States coastal plain, from Virginia to central Florida, and west to East Texas.

  • It belongs to the Magnoliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 14 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 100 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 5,635 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #31 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,906 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #32 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,679 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #4 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (358 records)
Bloom time in the 38 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Florida🌷 GardenApril–May5,635
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (27)3,906
Georgia🌷 GardenApril–June3,679
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (30)2,199
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (14)1,940
Texas🌷 Gardenfew records (33)1,742
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (20)1,227
Louisiana🌷 Gardenfew records (15)1,221
Mississippi🌷 GardenApril–June939
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (2)269
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (4)227
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records68
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (1)34
Kentucky🌷 Gardenno flowering records17
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenfew records (1)14
New York🌷 Gardenno flowering records8
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records (1)4
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
New Jersey🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Hawaii🌷 Gardenfew records (1)1
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Ohio🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
West Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Arizona🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Iowa🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Michigan🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
New Mexico🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Nevada🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Utah🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 26 of our 38 states.
See each state
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S2, imperiled in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe has no New York rank for it. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe has no Pennsylvania rank for it. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe has no Missouri rank for it. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe has no New Jersey rank for it. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Hawaii
Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe has no Hawaii rank for it. HAR 13-107
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe has no Massachusetts rank for it. MESA list
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe has no Ohio rank for it. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe has no Rhode Island rank for it. RI rare plants 2016
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe has no Arizona rank for it. AAC R3-3 App. A
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe has no Connecticut rank for it. CT E/T/SC list
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe has no Iowa rank for it. IAC 571-77.3
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe has no Michigan rank for it. R 299.1028
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe has no New Mexico rank for it. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe has no Nevada rank for it. NAC 527.010
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Carolina.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Arkansas.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe has no Oklahoma rank for it.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe has no West Virginia rank for it.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe has no Idaho rank for it.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Indiana rank for it.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe has no Utah rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S2 in North Carolina. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Magnolia stellata (“Magnolia Bush”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Southern magnolia in 14 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Brunswick, Cumberland, Jones.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Baker, Bulloch, Charlton, Chatham, Clarke, Coffee, Crisp, Dougherty, Effingham, Emanuel, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Houston, Jefferson, Johnson, Lanier, Lee, Liberty, Lowndes, Macon, McIntosh, Monroe, Oconee, Sumter, Tattnall, Tift, Wheeler, Worth.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Southern magnolia a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 6.5 and winter lows down to 7 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.5 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
7 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
220
Annual precipitation range
35 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
42 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MAGR4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Lower 48 states: Native; Puerto Rico: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 233 counties across 13 states; the most are in Louisiana (54), Florida (42), Mississippi (36).

Other Magnolia on Bloomipedia (5): Magnolias, Sweetbay magnolia, Banana shrub, Star magnolia, Saucer magnolia.

More Florida flowers

Sources