Southern magnolias: Breathtaking if given room to breathe.

No one on ArtisTree’s Plantopinions panel doubts the magnificence of Southern magnolia trees. But it’s their very magnificence (being impressively large) that can literally get in the way when homeowners plant them too close to their homes. The Southern magnolia, or Magnolia grandiflora, has been called the Clydesdale of magnolia trees, reaching up to 80 feet tall and 40 feet wide. So no wonder our experts were especially mindful of the “Right Plant, Right Place” principle when sizing them up. You should be, too.

Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree VP Landscape Design:

Magnolias are one of my top choices for hardwoods that I use regularly to meet code requirements. For starters, they’re a stately tree that anchors a structure very well given the right space considerations. That said, if placed in a tighter location, they can be easily topped and/or trimmed at the sides to help control their size. I particularly like their large, dark-green foliage because it plays well with any lighter greens. And the flowers are very showy with an amazing fragrance. I’ve brought a few inside and placed in a bowl of water. They look good and smell good for days.

Clinton Lak, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I like the Southern Magnolia  as long as it’s given adequate room away from structures, swimming pools and hardscapes. It’s one of the very few trees that’s evergreen, offers a magnificent bloom (with a great fragrance), and impresses with contrasting foliage that’s distinctive in color. While extremely hardy, magnolias don’t perform well in wet conditions or areas with a lot of salt and wind exposure. They also serve a dual purpose by satisfying most local municipal and county tree mitigation requirements, making them a nice new-construction choice. For me, their fragrance is always a sign that we’re about to enter the long Florida summer and to savor the lower humidity before our weather pattern changes.

Chris Culp, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I do like Southern magnolia trees and use them all the time. They make a bold statement when properly placed at the corners of a home (but not too close), or you can use as an evergreen privacy/screening tree. I’ve paired magnolias with bright contrasting plants in front of them such as Variegated Flax Lily, Gold Mound Duranta and others. A big plus is that this Florida native is on Sarasota County’s tree permit list, so it’s already approved. I’ll save the obvious for last: their signature white fragrant flowers. They can span up to 10 inches wide, and interestingly, attract beetles as pollinators because they’re structurally adapted for them.

Brian Clouser, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I’m not a fan of magnolias on most properties.  They grow too large and are messy with shedding leaves. I like magnolias when they fit the scale of a property (there’s about 40 cultivars to choose from). I’ve been out to a few jobs where Southern magnolias were planted way too close to a home, and we ended up having to rip them out and replace with something more suitable. On the upside, magnolias have impressive flowers and make a great statement when used in larger landscapes. I personally like the Little Gem variety because it stays smaller and fits more homes.

Elisabeth Owen, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I like the Southern Magnolia for the simple fact that it’s an evergreen with shiny, dinner-plate-size leaves and flowers. The fragrance really is unmatched for any large shade tree. It’s important to plant magnolias in full sun where there’s adequate drainage; otherwise, they’ll decline quickly. The big thing is that many homeowners tend to plant this tree too close to their homes or simply lack the appropriate space. So be careful when placing it. It’s a shame to have to disfigure it by cutting it away from the house. Another thing to note is that these are messy trees when the seed cones and/or leaves drop, so avoid planting near heavily walked driveways and sidewalks if possible. I like using Southern magnolias as screening trees or as stand-alones where there’s a nice big lawn spread. Since they’re slow growers, they make a great snowbird tree.

Conan Michel, ArtisTree Landscape Operations Manager:

I like the Southern Magnolia, but my best advice is to remember it’s a grand canopy tree. You need to make sure that you provide adequate room for them. Regular Southern magnolias get big — up to 80-feet tall and 40-feet wide. But if you’re looking for a large evergreen, they’re fantastic for creating a walkway on a large-acreage property or used to “hold corners” on a larger home. They also work great when used to create a hammock in a large backyard. I like seeing Southern magnolias used as a single specimen shade tree in a large lawn. You’ll see the heaviest blooms in spring, but they’ll repeat in the early summer and even later.

These ArtisTree-installed “D.D. Blanchard” Southern Magnolia trees were the perfect choice for a large property near The Concession Golf Club. Just two of these giants serve as a distinctive privacy screen.

ArtisTree “Plantopinions” is a roundtable debate between ArtisTree experts on the virtues of various plant specimens. Sometimes there’s consensus and sometimes not. In the end, you are the judge.

Contact ArtisTree Landscape 941.488.8897

To get your landscape renovation started now, browse ArtisTree’s portfolio and then call Jenni Lassen at 941.488.8897, ext. 312, to meet with one of our award-winning designers. We proudly serve Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and South Hillsborough counties.

ArtisTree also provides complete landscape maintenance services for HOA communities throughout Southwest Florida. Contact Michael Casper at 941.488.8897, ext. 321, for your custom proposal.  

Category News, Trees