Magnolia Tree Facts

Magnolias are believed to be the earliest known flowering plants, with their fossils dating back over 100 million years. Magnolia trees even existed before bees, so they rely mostly on beetles for pollination. Instead of nectar, the flowers produce large quantities of pollen that the beetles use for food.

Magnolia flowers are actually composed of “tepals,” a combination of sepals and petals similar in size and shape, comparable to water lilies.

The Magnolia’s life cycle begins at the seed and can end up growing to 60 to 80 feet.

The Magnolia Atlas boasts the biggest flowers, which can reach a whopping 14 inches across!

Magnolias begin as seedlings, and journey through their sapling stage until they become Juveniles. They remain in this Juvenile stage for about 20-25 years and are unable to produce seeds or flowers.

Once they reach their flowering stage, bees and beetles pollinate their lovely blooms by carrying pollen from one flower to another.

It is thought that most southern magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) have a life-span of 80-120 years, although the oldest tree on record is 320 years old in Italy.

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