Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Magnolia acuminata

cucumber tree

Large tree, conical when young, spreading with age, up to 30m in height, with large, mid-green ovate leaves slightly downy on the underside. Small, pale green/yellow flowers with a metallic blue sheen bloom in late spring and early summer. The young fruits, when produced, resemble small cucumbers, which is how the tree got its common name

Other common names
blue magnolia

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 30% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Yellow Green
Summer Blue Green Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Magnoliaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Genus

Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Canada, USA

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or light shade with shelter from cold winds. Late frost may damage the flower buds. For more information see magnolia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed (tree/shrub) or propagate by softwood cuttings from late spring to early summer or semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning Group 1. See magnolia pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.