Magnolia fraseri Walter
Mountain magnolia, Fraser Magnolia
Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family)
USDA Symbol: MAFR
A tree often branched near the base, with an open crown of spreading branches, large leaves, and very large flowers.
Named for John Fraser (1750-1811), Scottish botanist, who introduced many North American plants to Europe. This species, of scattered distribution, is fairly common in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Planted as an ornamental for the large flowers and coarse foliage.
From the Image Gallery
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Oblong , Obovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Base: Auriculate
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet; crown widely spreading.
Leaf: Alternate but crowded at the tip of the branches so as to appear whorled, simple, deciduous, oblong to obovate, pointed or rounded at the tip, auriculate at the base, without teeth, smooth, up to 20 inches long, up to 8 inches wide; leaf stalks smooth, up to 5 inches long.
Flower: Solitary, up to 10 inches across, fragrant; flower stalks stout, up to 1 1/2 inches long, glaucous.
Fruit: Many follicles crowded together into a cone, rose red, up to 4 inches long, smooth; seeds fleshy, up to 1/3 inch long.
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Bloom InformationBloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
DistributionUSA: AL , GA , KY , NC , NY , OH , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: W. Virginia and West Virginia south to n. Georgia; at 800-5000 (244-1524 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils of mountain valleys in hardwood forests.
Growing ConditionsWater Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
BenefitConspicuous Flowers: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
From the National Organizations DirectoryAccording to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
BibliographyBibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
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Web ReferenceWebref 17 - Southern Wetland Flora: Field Office Guide to Plant Species (0) U.S. Department of Agriculture. No date. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, South Nat...
Additional resourcesUSDA: Find Magnolia fraseri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Magnolia fraseri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Magnolia fraseri
MetadataRecord Modified: 2014-05-12
Research By: TWC Staff