Service Growing Southern Magnolia Gary L. Wade, Extension Horticulturist Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, is an aristocrat of trees. It grows well throughout Georgia, is widely adaptable to a variety of soils, and has few pest problems. With glossy evergreen foliage and large white fragrant blossoms, it truly is one of the most handsome and durable native trees for our Southern landscapes. Most cultivars of Southern Magnolia are seedling selections that have been vegetatively propagated.
Some nurseries also sell seedling trees.
However, seed propagation results in a wide variety of tree shapes, leaf sizes and coloration of the leaves. In addition, seedling trees may take 10 years to flower. Today, there are several superior cultivars of Southern Magnolia on the market. Many new cultivars flower at an earlier age and have a tighter, denser canopy or smaller growth habit than the seedling forms. Another popular characteristic is a rusty-bronze appearance of the underside of the leaves.