Cucumbertree | Magnolia acuminata | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Magnolia
Family (botanic) Magnoliaceae
Planting site Residential and parks
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Illinois, North America
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 50-80 feet
Mature width 50-80 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Drought tolerance Sensitive
Other tolerances Alkaline soil
Season of interest late spring, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, Yellow
Shape or form Oval, Pyramidal
Growth rate Fast, Moderate
Transplants well Yes
Planting considerations Intolerant of pollution, May be difficult to find in nurseries
Wildlife Songbirds
Has cultivars Yes

More Information

Native Geographic Location and Habitat

This is of hybrid origin. The native distribution of this tree is somewhat scattered in the eastern United States. It is found in isolated areas in many states and found most frequently in Appalachia. Commonly found growing in sheltered, wooded ravines.

Bark Description

The bark is gray and fairly smooth when young, maturing to shallowly furrowed.

Leaf Description

Simple, alternate leaves have entire leaf margins. At 4 to 10 inches, these leaves are larger than many species of magnolia commonly used in the landscape. Leaves are dark green in summer, becoming attractive yellow-brown in fall.

Flower Description

Large flowers, borne singly in late spring after many other magnolias have flowered. Not as showy as other magnolias due the yellow-green color of the flower and the fact that the foliage has emerged by flowering time.

Fruit Description

The 2 to 3 inch long aggregate fruit with a knobby surface is pinkish-red in color and resembles a small cucumber. The fruit splits open in fall to reveal the reddish-orange seed. This species tends to produce more fruit than other magnolias.

Cultivars

These cultivars have cucumbertree as one of their parents.

Butterflies magnolia (Magnolia ‘Butterflies’)

This tree is 18 to 20 feet high and 12 to 18 feet wide. Upright and pyramidal in form, it blooms in late May. The deep yellow flowers appear before the leaves. Zone 5-7

Coral Lake magnolia (Magnolia ‘Coral Lake’)

Upright flowers with a mix of pink, peach, coral and cream are fragrant. Flowers later than some magnolias. Grows 20 feet high. Zone 4.

Daybreak magnolia (Magnolia ‘Daybreak’)

A narrow cultivar with rosy pink flowers. Grows 20 to 25 feet high and 6 to 12 feet wide. Zone 5-8.

Elizabeth magnolia (Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’)

Blooming in mid-May, this tree grows 30 to 50 feet high and 20 to 35 feet wide with an upright, pyramidal form. A vigorous large tree with primrose yellow flowers, it blooms at an early age. Zone 4-8

Goldfinch magnolia (Magnolia ‘Goldfinch’)

Upright and pyramidal in form, this tree grows 35 to 40 feet high and 30 to 40 feet wide and blooms in early May. A mid-size tree with light yellow flowers, it blooms before the leaves emerge. Zone 4-8

Gold Star magnolia (Magnolia ‘Gold Star’)

This small, multi-stemmed tree has star shaped, yellow flowers and grows 20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide with a broad, pyramidal form. It blooms in early May. New leaves emerge bronze-colored. Zone 4-8

Sunsation magnolia (Magnolia ‘Sunsation’)

Large 6 to 7 inches wide creamy-yellow flowers are accented with a blush of pink. Grows 20 to 30 feet high and 20 to 25 feet wide. Zone 4.

Yellow Bird magnolia (Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’)

Yellow, upright flowers are produced later than some cultivars. Grows to 40 feet high and 25 feet wide. Zone 4-8.