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Southern magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

Also called Bull bay, Evergreen magnolia and Magnolia 'Exmouth'

Garden plant · Trees

The other magnolias flower on bare wood in April; this one is evergreen and flowers in August, one enormous cream bowl at a time, scented of lemon. Slow, and it wants a wall for its first twenty years in a cool climate.

Care at a glance

Ease
Medium
Water
Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
Light
Full sun, against a warm wall
Feed
Every 45 days
Humidity
Average
Hardiness
Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
Size
8 m tall · 6 m across
Lifecycle
Tree
Origin
The south-eastern United States

Is it safe for pets and people?

PetsNothing recorded against it

No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.

PeopleNot checked yet

Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.

Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.

A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

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