This tree has a refined upright form reaching 40’ – 80’ in height and 30’ – 40’ in width. Trees will become very large over time and should be planted in areas where they can expand as the roots often reach well beyond the leaf canopy. Heavy leaf residue, containing allelochemicals, interferes with the establishment of plants underneath the tree. Magnolia Mercury™ is a unique and exceptional late-blooming (often a month after typical M. soulangeana , thereby avoiding late spring frosts) magnolia tree with huge fragrant flowers that is ideal for use as a street or specimen tree. The best display is in summer when Mercury’s huge flowers put on a visual display and teases the nose with a delightful fragrance. But the tree stays green and provides a bit of color pick-me-up in the winter Plant in full sun for best flower display with moist, organically-rich, well-drained soil. It can survive in shade, but has low drought tolerance. It cannot survive in flooded conditions, but can tolerate high moisture levels and soil salinity. It is winter hardy, tolerates air pollution, and is hurricane/storm-resistant. Developed as a collaborative project by NC State University, J. Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery, and the late Dr. August Kehr. U.S. Plant Patent Applied for (PPAF). Seasons of Interest: Bloom: Summer Foliage: Winter, evergreen Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. More information on Magnolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Dense; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Soft; Velvety
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Simple, alternate and oval to elliptical. Pinnate venation. Very thick and leathery without teeth. A smooth, shiny intense green surface above and a fuzzy, cinnamon brown color below. Each leaf can remain on the tree for up to 2 years.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Huge (up to 12"), showy, fragrant flowers that are red in bud and opening to bright lavender pink.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
Aggregate of dry, cylindrical, hairy, 3 – 5 inch-long carpels that turn red/red-brown with age. Each follicle contains one long bright red seed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Seeds, which are high in fat, are a good energy source for migratory birds, squirrel, opossum, quail, turkey, mice & chipmunks. Pollinators, especially beetles, are attracted to the pollen which is high in protein.
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
The long-lasting leaves have been in holiday flower arrangements. A variety of extracts taken from leaves, fruits, bark and wood have been used in pharmaceutical applications.