The Mighty Southern Magnolia

Evergreen Most Unlikely

The Southern Magnolia is one of the most iconic trees of the American South.


       Glen Campbell's 1977 song Southern Nights is a love letter to the American South, describing the beauty of its nature in the evening. If you haven't heard it before, you should give it a listen! The album cover centrally features a framed Magnolia flower, with wide white petals and glossy, vibrant, green leaves. These trees and flowers are absolutely baked into the Southern landscape, and that includes South Carolina!



       The Southern Magnolia, or Magnolia grandiflora, is native to the Southeast region of the U.S., but has cousins all across the world. It reaches between 60-80 feet tall, on average, and spreads about half as wide as it grows. As the title suggests, the Magnolia is an evergreen. As someone who has spent most of their life in the upstate of South Carolina, near the bottom of the Blue Ridge, I can say it was always odd to see snow on Magnolias in January-February! But the Magnolia is hardy and can live for up to 120 years! Gardenia.net suggests that the Magnolia is multipurpose, useful as a specimen tree, shade tree, privacy screen, pollinator attracter (given the plentiful pollen and seeds on its pistil), and more!

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