Cucumber magnolia, Magnolia acuminata, is also known as cucumbertree, yellow cucumbertree, yellow-flower magnolia, and mountain magnolia. Cucumber magnolias were thus named due to the cucumber-like fruit, which ripens in late August to September.

Of the magnolia trees native to the United States, cucumber magnolias are the most widespread and hardiest. They are the only magnolia native to Canada. Even though these trees are widespread, they are not abundant over their distribution area.

The biggest cucumber magnolias are found in the mixed hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Cucumber magnolias prefers cool, moist soils in mountainous terrain, with humid to subhumid climates. Growing seasons last between 110 and 260 days, with 150 to 230 frost-free days. Cucumber magnolias can survive brief extremes in temperature.

Cucumber magnolia flowers can be found from early April to early June, after the leaves begin development. At night, the flowers close, but still only last 2 to 4 days. Self-pollination is rare, as even though the tree produces both male and female parts, pollen is not ripe until after the individual tree’s female part is not receptive. Most pollination is then carried out by insects. Each “cucumber” fruit makes 10 to 60 seeds, with good crops appearing every 4 to 5 years.

The short period of pollen shedding and receptivity as well as the delicate nature of the flower may adversely affect the reproduction of cucumber magnolias. Additionally, the seeds are especially sensitive to temperature and moisture, to an extent that may outrival any other tree seed.

Cucumber magnolia can reach a height of 100 feet with a trunk diameter of 36 to 48 inches. Cucumber magnolias are considered mature by 100 years and rarely survives beyond 150 years. That means rapid growth.

While there are no diseases that particularly affect the cucumber magnolia, it is sensitive to fires and frost. It does have an intermediate shade tolerance.

Mountain magnolia, Magnolia fraseri, is also known as Fraser magnolia, earleaf cucumbertree, umbrellatree, or mountain-oread.

The range is very limited, and this magnolia is natively primarily found in the hardwood forests at the base of the Appalachians, with some additional range.

For such a limited range, precipitation has a sizeable amount of variation. Temperature is a little less variable, especially in the summer. In winter months, the temperature varies a little by area. Frost-free days are medial, at 150 to 180 days annually.

Generally, the mountain magnolia is found in soils with moderate moisture. Sites are typically protected as well, and mountain magnolias do best in soils with high mineral content.

The white flowers are 8 to 12 inches wide, with six to nine petals. They usually open from May to June. A good crop of seeds occurs every four to five years, but stump sprouts survive more easily than seedlings, typically.

Mountain magnolia has very thin bark, making it susceptible to fire damage, which leads to wood rot. Cankers, rot, insects, and prolonged flooding can damage or kill the tree.

Typically, larger individuals with defects make dense for wildlife, and sprouts and foliage are browsed.

The scientific name of the bigleaf magnolia is the Magnolia macrophylla.
The bigleaf magnolia on campus is located on the pathway between Colton Chapel and Pardee. It is recognizable by its very large leaves. In the wild these leaves can range from 12 to 32 inches long and 7 to 12 inches wide. The leaves tend to be larger when the tree is found in the wild, but even as a landscape tree the leaves are still impressively sized.

Starting around 12 to 15 years, this magnolia develops flowers from May to July, later than most magnolias on campus. The flowers are white with some rose at the base, and can be 8 to 12 inches in diameter. Like many magnolias, the scent of the flower is pleasant.
The overall tree can reach heights of 30 to 40 feet with a 20 to 30 feet spread.

The bigleaf magnolia can do survive in zones 5 through 8, although is natively found in a much more limited range in the southern portion of the United States. It tends to do well with some shade or full sun. Soil should be well-drained, and the bigleaf magnolia cannot survive with wet soil or droughts.

Due to its pickiness, in captivity, the bigleaf magnolia can have a short lifespan. In fact, one of the trunks of the bigleaf magnolia on campus had to be removed recently due to rotting.