Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The long-lasting leaves have been in holiday flower arrangements. A variety of extracts taken from leaves, fruits, bark and wood have been used in pharmaceutical applications.
Plant Profile: Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF
Names
Big-laurel, Bull-bay, Mercury™ Magnolia
Phonetic Spelling:mag-NOL-ee-ah
Genus:Magnolia
Species:
Family:Magnoliaceae
Magnolia is among the most ancient tree species globally, having once constituted a significant portion of the North Temperate forest trees prior to the last glacial period. These trees typically have a lifespan ranging from 80 to 120 years. The name "Magnolia" derives from Latin, meaning large flowers, and pays tribute to the French botanist Pierre Magnol. The substantial leaf litter produced by these trees contains allelochemicals that can hinder the growth of plants beneath them. With a graceful, upright growth habit, magnolias can reach heights of 40 to 80 feet and widths of 30 to 40 feet. As they mature, these trees can grow quite large, so it is essential to plant them in spaces that allow for their expansive root systems, which often extend well beyond the canopy.
Mercury™ is a remarkable late-blooming magnolia variety, typically flowering about a month later than the common M. soulangeana, thus avoiding the risk of late spring frosts. This tree features large, fragrant blossoms and a refined, upright shape, making it an excellent choice for street planting or as a specimen tree. Its most stunning display occurs in the summer when the enormous flowers create a captivating visual spectacle and emit a delightful fragrance. Even in winter, the tree remains green, offering a refreshing splash of color.
For optimal flowering, plant Mercury™ in full sun with moist, organically rich, and well-drained soil. While it can tolerate some shade, it has low drought resistance and cannot endure flooding, although it can handle high moisture levels and soil salinity. This tree is winter hardy, resistant to air pollution, and can withstand hurricanes and storms.
This variety was developed through a collaborative effort involving NC State University, J. Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery, and the late Dr. August Kehr.
Seasons of Interest:
- Bloom: Summer
- Foliage: Winter, evergreen
Insects, Diseases, and Other Issues: There are no significant insect or disease concerns associated with this tree.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Feature Summary
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#hardy
#fragrant flowers
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#large tree
#salt tolerant
#wet sites
#moist soil
#food source
#deer resistant
#mci
#large flowers
#pollinator plant
Similar Plants
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Feature Summary
Attributes
The long-lasting leaves have been in holiday flower arrangements. A variety of extracts taken from leaves, fruits, bark and wood have been used in pharmaceutical applications.
Seeds, which are high in fat, are a good energy source for migratory birds, squirrel, opossum, quail, turkey, mice & chipmunks. Pollinators, especially beetles, are attracted to the pollen which is high in protein.
It is notable that magnolias are deer resistant.
Woody
Fruit
Aggregate of dry, cylindrical, hairy, 3 – 5 inch-long carpels that turn red/red-brown with age. Each follicle contains one long bright red seed.
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
> 3 inches
Flowers
Huge (up to 12"), showy, fragrant flowers that are red in bud and opening to bright lavender pink.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Fragrant
Showy
Summer
7 - 20 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
3-6 inches
Leaves
Simple, alternate and oval to elliptical. Pinnate venation. Very thick and leathery without teeth. A smooth, shiny intense green surface above and a fuzzy, cinnamon brown color below. Each leaf can remain on the tree for up to 2 years.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Brown/Copper
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Entire
Soft
Leathery
Velvety
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Columnar
Pyramidal
Dense
Low
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
more than 60 feet
24-60 feet
Coastal
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
High Organic Matter
Stem
Landscape
Specimen
Deer
Pollution
Wet Soil
Salt
Storm damage
Pollinators
Songbirds
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Image Gallery
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Attributes
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Wildlife Value
Seeds, which are high in fat, are a good energy source for migratory birds, squirrel, opossum, quail, turkey, mice & chipmunks. Pollinators, especially beetles, are attracted to the pollen which is high in protein.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
It is notable that magnolias are deer resistant.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Fruit
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Fruit Description
Aggregate of dry, cylindrical, hairy, 3 – 5 inch-long carpels that turn red/red-brown with age. Each follicle contains one long bright red seed.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Flowers
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Description
Huge (up to 12"), showy, fragrant flowers that are red in bud and opening to bright lavender pink.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Leaves
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Description
Simple, alternate and oval to elliptical. Pinnate venation. Very thick and leathery without teeth. A smooth, shiny intense green surface above and a fuzzy, cinnamon brown color below. Each leaf can remain on the tree for up to 2 years.
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Whole Plant Traits
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Cultural Conditions
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Stem
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF Landscape
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Magnolia 'NCMX1' PPAF: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
