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Magnolia X Brooklynensis

Magnolia x brooklynensis (mag-NO-lee-ah brook-lih-NEN-sis)

Family: Magnoliaceae Unknown Canopy (>40 ft)

This hybrid deciduous magnolia tree in the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) was developed by the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to create yellow flowered magnolias. It is a cross between the cucumber magnolia ( Magnolia acuminata ) and lily magnolia ( Magnolia lilliflora ) and several cultivars have since been selected. The specific epithet is in reference to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, New York. This tree will grow up to 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide. This magnolia prefers full sun to partial shade in humus-rich, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist. Avoid planting in a southern exposure too close to a structure to prevent buds from opening too soon especially in the more northern of its growing zones. The large, fragrant, light-yellow flowers are up to 3 inches across and appear in late spring along with new leaf growth. Leaves are glossy dark green and up to 10 inches long. Use this magnolia as a flowering shade tree in a large yard where the flowers can be appreciated. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Capsid bugs and snails may affect the tree. Horse chestnut scale, coral spot or gray mold may attack the tree. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 50 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 1 - Canopy (>40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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 plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
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 pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy, elliptic to ovate dark green leaves have a pointed tip and are 9 to 10 inches long and turn yellow brown in the fall.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Yellow blooms up to 3 inches across are fragrant, long-lasting and showy. They appear in spring with the new leaves.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Fruit detail
Fruits are cone-like aggregations of follicles. Each follicle opens to reveal a seed, which often has a colorful, fleshy seed coat.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Flowers attract pollinators. Fruits will attract birds.
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Aggregate; Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Shade Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#flowering tree #showy flowers #yellow flowers #deciduous tree #shade tree #fragrant flowers
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Magnolia Scale
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.