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Bigleaf Magnolia

Magnolia macrophylla

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in moist forests. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

71
Strong

Native to Louisiana. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
30–40 feet
Spread
30–40 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist

Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

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At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
May to June
Fruiting season
July to August

Recorded in 12 Louisiana parishes.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Louisiana. Shared habitat, not food. 90 animals.

All wildlife of Louisiana

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

22CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Magnolia

  • Callosamia prometheaPromethea Moth
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Callosamia anguliferaTulip-Tree Silkmoth
  • Callosamia securiferaSweetbay Silkmoth, Carolina Silk Moth
  • Cameraria hamadryadellaSolitary Oak Leafminer Moth
  • Epimecis hortariaTulip-Tree Beauty
  • Episimus tyriusMaple Tip Borer
  • Euzophera magnolialisMagnolia Borer
  • Euzophera ostricolorellaTulip-Tree Borer, Root Collar borer
Show all 22
  • Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Laetilia coccidivoraScale-Feeding Snout
  • Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Papilio palamedesPalamedes Swallowtail
  • Papilio polyxenesBlack Swallowtail, Celery Caterpillar, Fennel Worm, Desert Black Swallowtail, Parsnip Swallowtail
  • Papilio troilusSpicebush Swallowtail
  • Paralobesia cyclopianaSweetbay Seedpod Moth
  • Paralobesia liriodendranaTulip-Tree Leaftier
  • Phyllocnistis liriodendronellaMagnolia Serpentine Leafminer
  • Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
7BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Magnolia

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
2BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Magnolia

  • Campephilus principalisIvory-billed Woodpecker
  • Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Magnoliaceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–8b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Cream, purple or white
Fruit begins
July
Fruit ends
August

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Louisiana rankS4
Global rankG4
LA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources