The magnolia is both the state tree and flower of Mississippi, with six native varieties. The southern magnolia is the most common and can grow up to 80 feet tall. Mississippi is the only state with the magnolia as both symbols, earning the nickname “Magnolia State.” Children voted for the magnolia as the state tree in 1935. Magnolia wood is used for furniture and the tree attracts wildlife. Magnolia fossils date back millions of years.
Mississippi’s state tree, the magnolia, is also the state flower. There are about 80 varieties of magnolia, and six of these are native to Mississippi. Lawmakers did not specify which of these six varieties they preferred as Mississippi’s state tree when they adopted it as their symbol in 1938, but it is commonly believed to be the southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora.
Southern magnolia, like other varieties, is prized for its stunning, fragrant, creamy white flowers and glossy, leathery green leaves. The Mississippi state tree can grow up to 80 feet (24.38 meters) under ideal conditions. The tallest southern magnolia in the country, 122 feet (37.18 meters), is found in Mississippi and has been designated a national champion by the American Forestry Association.
The southern magnolia is revered by botanists and the public alike for the splendor of its blooms, and schoolchildren across the state felt the same way in the 1900s. Children across the state wanted the southern magnolia to become the official state flower. Lawmakers granted their wish, but not until 1952, making Mississippi the only state that chose the magnolia for both state symbols, giving Mississippi its nickname, the Magnolia State. Magnolia is also the state flower of Louisiana.
State schoolchildren were also involved in the selection of the Mississippi state tree. A state forestry official asked the children in 1935 to choose the tree that would be an emblem of their state, and the children were offered four suggestions: pine, magnolia, dogwood, and oak. The children were asked to vote for their favorite and the magnolia came out on top.
The Mississippi State Tree is also known as the large-flowered magnolia, bull bay, evergreen magnolia, and large laurel. The flowers can be up to 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) large. The branches of the tree sag to the ground if not pruned, with the shade preventing any sort of successful planting under the tree. Magnolia wood is used in making furniture and birds and other forms of wildlife flock to its seeds.
Other magnolia tree varieties may sport yellow, red, purple, or pink flowers. These blooms are generally safe from deer feeding habits, unlike many ornamental trees and plants. Magnolia fossils have been found that date back 36 million years, and some of these fossils are even older, dating back 58 million years.
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