Castle Howard Arboretum Trust - Furniture Makers Trees

Botanical name: Magnolia grandiflora

Family: Magnoliaceae

Common Name: Southern magnolia, Bull Bay

Habitat and Distribution:

This native American tree occurs on the coastal plain from North Carolina, south to central Florida, and west to east Texas. Magnolia grandiflora grows best along streams and near swamp margins in moist, fertile soils, in association with American beech (Fagus grandiflora), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and various oaks.

It grows well in full sun to partial shade; it is extremely drought tolerant, however it does best, in rich, well-drained, acidic soils.

Description:

Southern magnolia is a large, broad-leafed evergreen tree that can grow 18-27 metres (60-90 ft) in height, 9-15 metres (30-50 ft) wide with a trunk up to 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) in diameter. In the UK it is usually seen as a large shrub, as it needs year round warmth to reach tree-size. Its trunk is typically straight and erect with spreading branches that form a dense, broadly pyramidal crown. The evergreen leaves are large 13-20 cm (5-8 in) long, leathery and dark glossy green above with rusty, velveteen undersides. Southern magnolia has large, showy white flowers that are 20-30 cm (8-12 in) in diameter. These have a pleasant fragrance and appear throughout the spring and summer. The fruits are reddish-brown cone like structures, 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long; with bright red kidney shaped seeds that hang from little threads when fully mature in autumn.

The bark is smooth grey, large scaly plates develop on mature trees. The stems are green and pubescent with a lemon scent when crushed or bruised.

It was introduced to the UK. in 1734

Timber:

The wood is a creamy straw colour to greenish beige, often streaked purple by mineral deposition, and with a satin like lustre.

Location within the arboretum:

The arboretum is too exposed to grow M. grandifolia, a fine specimen is to be found in the walled rose garden at Castle Howard. In the north eastern part of the old entrance gate area we have a number of examples of Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’. Many other varieties can be found throughout the arboretum and more are being added all the time.

Furniture Makers Trees at The Arboretum - Kew at Castle Howard

Uses:

It is used for inlays and turning, it is also sliced for decorative veneers where the mineral stained pieces are especially valued.

In its native area it has some limited use in the forest products trade where its wood is made into veneer for plywood and wooden crates to transport vegetables.

In the warmer latitudes is used as a street tree, a free standing specimen, a framing tree, or shade tree; whereas in the U.K. it is normally grown with the shelter of a wall.