This extraordinary variety produces huge oval leaves with silvery undersides; large ivory flowers in mid spring persist until early summer; great as a specimen or shade tree in a large area; may take many years to produce flowers. Bigleaf Magnolia is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition. This is a relatively low maintenance tree and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics. Bigleaf Magnolia features showy fragrant white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has dark green foliage with silver undersides. The enormous oval leaves do not develop any appreciable fall colour. The fruits are showy red pods displayed in mid summer. The furrowed gray bark and silver branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape. Bigleaf Magnolia will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 40 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.
