Virginia Tech Dendrology

star magnolia Magnoliaceae Magnolia stellata (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. symbol: MAST6
Leaf: Alternate, simple, obovate or elliptical, 2 1/2 to 4 inches, entire margin, dark green above, green below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; white, 3 to 4 inches across, 12 to 20 petals, appearing in early spring.
Fruit: A cone-like, twisted, aggregate of follicles, 2 to 2 1/2 inches long; matures in late summer.
Twig: Moderate, glabrous, grayish brown, terminal buds tan and fuzzy, up to 1/2 inch long, stipule scar encircles twig.
Bark: Smooth, mottled gray.
Form: Small tree (to 20 feet), often multi-stemmed, very upright conical crown when young, crown spreads some with age.
Looks like: saucer magnolia - sweetbay magnolia

Additional Range Information: Magnolia stellata is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and is not known to widely escape cultivaton. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information