Is Southern Magnolia Evergreen or Deciduous? A Detailed Explanation of Its Plant Habit

Southern magnolia, white magnolia, and purple magnolia all belong to the Magnoliaceae family, genus Magnolia. They are not only similar in name but also not very different in appearance, so many people mistakenly think that the southern magnolia is the white magnolia. So today, let's explain whether the southern magnolia is evergreen or deciduous. What are the differences between the southern magnolia, white magnolia, and purple magnolia?

I. Is the southern magnolia evergreen or deciduous

The southern magnolia is an evergreen tree, not a deciduous plant. It stays green all year round, and its leaves are very thick, similar to the leathery leaves of camellia and osmanthus. The flowers are very fragrant. The leaf surface is waxy, smooth and glossy, and the leaves are thick and full, with reddish-brown fuzz on the underside.

Deciduous plants are the opposite of evergreen plants. During a certain period of the year, their leaves fall off completely, and the branches become bare with no leaves. The reasons for deciduousness are clearly related to factors such as season and climate.

II. The differences between the southern magnolia, white magnolia, and purple magnolia

All three are plants of the Magnoliaceae family, genus Magnolia. The southern magnolia is an evergreen tree, the white magnolia is a deciduous tree, and the purple magnolia is a deciduous shrub. This alone is enough to distinguish them.

The young branches, petioles, and undersides of the leaves of the southern magnolia are densely covered with rusty-brown short fuzz. The flowers are relatively large and white. The aggregate follicle fruit is densely covered with grayish-brown fuzz, and the follicles have a long beak.

The leaves of the white magnolia are obovate, broadly obovate, or obovate-oblong, with a broad rounded or flat-truncate apex and a protruding tip. The flowers are white, fragrant, and open before the leaves.

The young branches of the purple magnolia are purplish-brown with obvious lenticels. The leaves are elliptic-obovate, with an abruptly pointed or gradually pointed apex and a gradually narrowed base. The flowers open together with the leaves or before the leaves, and are purple.