Two magnolia trees grow in our small, triangular-shaped urban yard, one at two of the vertices. The trees provide wonderful year-round interest, including leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. They also provide deep shade for our yard, and food and protection for birds, squirrels, and small mammals.
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| Magnolia |
Magnolia grandiflora is a medium to large evergreen tree that is native to the southeastern United States, from Virginia to central Florida, and west to eastern Texas. It is endemic to subtropical forests, but is grown in warm climates around the world. The leaves are simple and broadly ovate with smooth margins. They are dark green and leathery, and the underleaf is pubescent, typically in yellow-brown, or white.
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| Magnolia flower and leaves |
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| Polyfollicular magnolia fruit |
The flowers are large, white, and waxy. The fruit is rose-colored, ovoid, and polyfollicular. The seeds are bright orange, and are eaten by squirrels, opossum, and birds. Once established, the magnolia is surprisingly drought tolerant, though may drop leaves in times of extreme drought or at the end of the dry season. The magnolia is well adapted to fire, The bark is thin, but the cork layer underneath does not burn easily. The seeds, however, are killed by fire.
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| Rose-colored fruit |
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| Magnolia seeds |
Even though the trees are not native to the Bay Area, we enjoy having them in the yard. Drought may keep them more compact than they would grow elsewhere, and they are lovely to watch as they go through their yearly life cycle.
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