Beautiful Magnolia Flowers | Country Living

Magnolias are one of the most loved flowering trees for their stunning blooms and dramatic white, cream, pink or purplish flowers. A symbol of the South (and a favorite of Chip and Joanna Gaines of course), magnolia flowers bloom when trees are young, so homeowners and gardeners often prefer to plant them.

Magnolia trees (which also come in shrub form) may be either deciduous (meaning they drop their leaves in the fall) or evergreen. Amazingly, some types can live for up to 200 years!

They’re generally free from pests and diseases, and they don’t need to be pruned. You can plant them any time, but fall is an especially good time to help them get established when rainfall generally is more plentiful and temperatures more moderate.

Here's what else you need to know about magnolia flowers:

What does a magnolia flower symbolize?

Named for Pierre Magnol, a 17^th century French botanist, the tree's gorgeous flowers are said to represent nobility and purity. They were traditionally included in bridal bouquets for this reason.

Interesting side note: Magnol’s biggest contribution to science was grouping plants with similar characteristics into the same “family,” which is the word he used. If you remember your high school biology, scientists still include "family" between order and genus when determining plant (and animal) taxonomy!

How long do magnolia flowers last?

Though it depends on the weather conditions, magnolia flowers typically last about two weeks, before falling. A heavy rain, late frost, or unseasonably warm conditions may shorten that considerably. Freezing temperatures especially will cause blooms to turn brown and drop off.