Fraser Magnolia is a small flowering tree native to the southeastern United States. It prefers moist, cool and fertile soils of mesic sites and is found mostly on the lower third of mountainous slopes and gorges. In North Carolina, it is typically found in rich coves and slopes of the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 2000 to 4000 feet. Many Fraser Magnolias can be seen while driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it is fairly common in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is usually less hardy than other magnolia species. This species is named after John Fraser (1750-1811), a Scottish botanist who introduced many North American plants to Europe. This tree grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soil. Of scattered distribution, it is planted as an ornamental for the large flowers and coarse foliage. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant 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 pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Open; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate; Subulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Leaf detail
Ten to twelve inch long leaves are oblong, narrow at the lower end with ear-like lobes at the base (auriculate).
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Ten to twelve inch, sweetly fragrant, creamy white to pale yellow, perfect flowers (that is, stamen and pistal are in the same flower). Bloom from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue; Orange; Pink
Fruit type
Achene; Follicle
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
Fruit is cucumber-shaped, oblong, 4 to 5 inches long, cone-like aggregate of fleshy seeded follicles. Once mature, the red drupe-like seeds are contained in a carpal, or cell. It displays from July to August.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Bark is smooth and grayish brown with some warty lenticels.
Stem detail
Branched near the base. Terminal winter buds are smooth, purple, and 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Flower stalks stout, up to 1 1/2 inches long, glaucous.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
West Virginia to Texas
Distribution
Found in a relatively small strip of the eastern US along the Appalachian Mountains from West Virginia south to the northern tip of Georgia.
Wildlife value
Fruit attracts birds and small mammals. The fruit is eaten by wildlife, helping disperse the seeds.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene; Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Wood is light, weak, and easily worked. Used for lumber or pulpwood, but usually in places where there are no alternatives.