Magnolia Is The Official State Tree Of Mississippi. Mississippi Designated the magnolia as the official state tree in 1952. “The Magnolia State” Is Also The Mississippi State Nickname is and the magnolia is also the state flower of Mississippi (adopted in 1900). In 1935, the Director of Forestry started a movement by which to select a Mississippi State Tree. The Tree Was selected by nomination and election by the school children of the State.
Four Tree Were nominated For State Tree -the magnolia, oak, pine, and dogwood. The Magnolia Tree received by far the largest Vote and majority. The large, lustrous, evergreen foliage makes the Southern Magnolia a desirable ornamental plant. Magnolia Tree flowers are produced more abundantly in southern areas than in northern areas.
State Tree Of Mississippi magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), also called evergreen magnolia, bull-bay, big-laurel, or large-flower magnolia, has large fragrant white flowers and evergreen leaves that make it one of the most splendid of forest trees and a very popular ornamental that has been planted around the world. This moderately fast-growing medium-sized Mississippi State Tree grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils of the bottoms and low uplands of the Coastal Plains of Southeastern United States.
Identification of the Magnolia or Evergreen Magnolia
- Size: – State Tree Of Mississippi Size Is 60 to 80 feet in height with a spread of about 30 to 50 feet. It develops into a large tree in southeastern Virginia, but in western Virginia, its height may not exceed 20 feet due to occasional winter damage.
- Leaf: Alternate, simple, pinnately veined and evergreen, 5 to 8 inches long, oval in shape with an entire margin. Very waxy/shiny above, and reddish tomentose below.
- Flower: The Flower Of Mississippi State Tree Is Very showy and fragrant, 6 to 8 inches wide with large white petals. Flowers are borne singly, from May to June.
- Fruit: Fruit Of Magnolia Tree Is An aggregate of follicles, green changing to red, cylindrical, 3 to 5 inches long with red seeds, 1/2 inch long. Maturing October to November.
- Twig: Stout, with white to rusty tomentum and a long (1 to 1 1/2 inches) silky white to rusty red terminal bud.
- Bark: Brown to gray, thin, smooth/lenticellate when young, later with close plates or scales.
- Form: A medium-sized tree with a pyramidal crown. When open grown, the crown is dense with low branches.