NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]
Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumber-tree, Mountain Magnolia
Scientific Name: |
Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ] |
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Genus: |
Magnolia |
Species Epithet: |
acuminata |
Common Name: |
Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumber-tree, Mountain Magnolia |
Plant Type |
Tree |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Invasive Status: |
(*Key) |
Size: |
36-72 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
Yellow, Green |
Light: |
Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Moist |
Bloom Time: |
April, May, June |
Growing Area: |
Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills |
Habitat Description: |
Mesic to subxeric forests, especially (but by no means strictly) over mafic or calcareous rocks, up to at least 1550m (where growing with Betula alleghaniensis, Abies fraseri, Picea rubens, and Sorbus americana), ultramafic outcrop barrens (where codominant with Pinus rigida and Quercus alba). Common in the mountains and rare in the Piedmont. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Alternate |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Simple |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Important for Wildlife |
Landscape Value: |
Suitable for home landscapes |
State Rank: |
S5: Secure (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G_T_: Subspecies or Variety Rank (add status to NOTES section) (*Key) |
Notes: |
Weakley (2018) and a few other references list varieties for the species. In the state, the nominate variety – M. acuminata var. acuminata – is essentially the only one in the mountains, whereas M. acuminata var. subcordata is the primary or only form in the Piedmont. This latter one occurs mainly on high pH soil, is a small tree, and has brighter golden-yellow petals. |
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Large elliptical leaves. Notice the cucumber-shaped fruit developing. Jackson County, NC
Bettina Darveaux |
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Brown furrowed bark. Jackson County, NC
Bettina Darveaux |
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Links: |
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![The Scientific Name is Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]. You will likely hear them called Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumber-tree, Mountain Magnolia. This picture shows the Large elliptical leaves. Notice the cucumber-shaped fruit developing. of Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_3363_Magnolia_acuminata_var._acuminata_BD_.jpeg "Large elliptical leaves. Notice the cucumber-shaped fruit developing. of Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]")
![The Scientific Name is Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]. You will likely hear them called Cucumber Magnolia, Cucumber-tree, Mountain Magnolia. This picture shows the Brown furrowed bark.
of Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]](https://ncwildflower.org/images/plants/IMG_3364_Magnolia_acuminata_var._acuminata_BD_.jpeg "Brown furrowed bark.
of Magnolia acuminata var. acuminata [ = Tulipastrum acuminatum ]")
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