133584 Southern Evergreen Magnolia or Bull Bay Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m
A large, spreading evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown. BARK Smooth, dull grey. BRANCHES Large, the youngest shoots covered with thick down and terminate in red-tipped buds. LEAVES Elliptical, to 16cm long and 9cm wide with a smooth or sometimes wavy margin. Upper surface is shiny, dark green, and underside is rust-coloured and downy, as is the 2.5cm-long petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are striking, composed of 6 white petal-like segments, borne at tips of shoots; conical in bud, later opening out to a spreading cup-shape, to 25cm across. Fruit is conical, to 6cm long, composed of scale-like carpels on a single orange stalk. Flowers from midsummer to late autumn. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SE USA, introduced into Europe in 18th century.
