# bigleaf magnolia (*Magnolia macrophylla*) The bigleaf magnolia is a tall tree with huge leaves and beautiful white flowers. It grows in warm, moist places and can be a lovely sight in the forest! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![bigleaf magnolia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/MagnoliaMacrophylla.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chhe ( talk ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MagnoliaMacrophylla.jpg) ## Appearance The bigleaf magnolia is a deciduous tree renowned for its exceptionally large, oblong leaves, which can reach up to 30 inches long. Its enormous, fragrant white flowers have a purplish stain at their base, making them distinctively showy. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Magnoliales - **Family:** Magnoliaceae - **Genus:** Magnolia ## Interesting facts - After flowering, cone-like fruits burst open, revealing bright red seeds hanging by thin threads! - Its leaves are the largest simple leaves of any tree native to North America! - Magnolia flowers are pollinated by ancient beetles, as they evolved before bees existed! - The huge, fragrant white flowers can be over a foot wide, as big as a dinner plate! ## Special abilities - **Giant Solar Panels:** Bigleaf magnolia has massive leaves that help it capture maximum sunlight, even in shaded forest understories. - **Ancient Allure:** It produces huge, bowl-shaped flowers with strong scents to attract beetles, its primary, ancient pollinators. - **Dangling Delights:** The tree develops cone-like fruits that open to reveal bright red seeds, which hang by threads to attract birds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 600-1200 cm - **Flower Size:** 25-30 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** magnolia flower scarab (*Cyclocephala borealis*) — Beetles are primary pollinators - **Eats:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds consume the bright red seeds - **Eats:** [American crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Crows disperse the seeds ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring forests and don't touch unknown plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bigleaf magnolia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bigleaf magnolia? 1500-3000 cm ### How wide does bigleaf magnolia spread? 600-1200 cm ### How big are the flowers on bigleaf magnolia? 25-30 cm ### When does bigleaf magnolia bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is bigleaf magnolia edible? No ### Is bigleaf magnolia toxic? None ### What is bigleaf magnolia's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cylburn Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cylburn-arboretum) — Maryland, US · Botanical Garden - [Kentenia State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentenia-state-forest) — Kentucky, US · Forest - [Pickett State Rustic Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pickett-state-rustic-park-historic-district) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Rugby](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rugby) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Stone Mountain Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-mountain-park) — Georgia, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see bigleaf magnolia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bigleaf-magnolia) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bigleaf Magnolia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bigleaf-magnolia)