How Fast Do Magnolia Trees Grow? (By Species)

How fast do magnolia trees grow? Most magnolias add 1 to 2 feet of height a year, which extension programs call a medium growth rate. But the answer changes by species. A Southern magnolia grows at a slow-to-medium pace, a saucer magnolia plods along at about a foot a year, a star magnolia is slower still, and a sweetbay can actually move fast. None of them are speed demons. If you want quick height, magnolias aren’t your tree. This page is part of our how fast do trees grow hub and a companion to the broader fast-growing trees guide.

Magnolias earn their spot in the yard with flowering trees appeal, not raw speed. So the real question isn’t just how fast they grow, it’s how long until they bloom and how big they get. A magnolia is the kind of specimen worth planning the bed around, which is where mklibrary’s overview of professional landscape design services comes in handy.

Growth rate by magnolia species

Here’s what the extension data says, species by species. Every rate below is sourced.

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). This is the big evergreen with the dinner-plate white flowers. NC State Extension rates its growth as medium, and Clemson pins it down to a slow to medium rate of 1 to 2 feet yearly. It tops out at 60 to 80 feet, so even at a steady pace you’re waiting decades for the full tree.

Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana). The pink-and-white spring bloomer most people picture. NC State rates it medium, and Clemson narrows that to about 1 foot per year. It’s a smaller tree, 15 to 30 feet, so a foot a year fills it in faster than the Southern magnolia.

Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata). The slowest of the bunch. NC State rates it slow, and Clemson puts that in real numbers: 3 to 6 feet of growth over 5 to 6 years. That’s well under a foot a year. It stays a 15-to-20-foot large shrub or small tree, so the slow rate matters less.

Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). The fast one. NC State Extension rates its growth as rapid, which puts it at 2-plus feet a year in good conditions. It runs 10 to 35 feet in most yards and can hit 100 feet in the Deep South. If you want a magnolia that establishes quickly, this is it.

‘Little Gem’ magnolia. A compact Southern magnolia cultivar people plant in tight spaces. Despite the Southern magnolia parentage, NC State rates ‘Little Gem’ as slow, reaching 15 to 20 feet over its first 20 years. You trade speed for a tree that won’t outgrow a small front yard.

What speeds up or slows magnolia growth

Genetics set the ceiling, but the site decides whether a magnolia hits it.

Soil. Magnolias want rich, moist, well-drained soil on the acidic side. Compacted clay or alkaline ground slows them down and yellows the leaves. Loosen a wide area at planting, not just the hole. Building healthy soil pays off across the whole yard, and mklibrary’s guide to growing a beautiful, thriving garden covers the fundamentals.

Zone. Match the species to your USDA zone. Southern magnolia handles zones 6 through 10, saucer 4 through 9, star 4 through 8, and sweetbay 5 through 10. Push a magnolia past its cold limit and it sulks or dies back, which kills any growth you’d hoped for.

Sun. Full sun to part shade is the range. More sun usually means more flowers and steadier growth, but in hot inland zones, afternoon shade keeps a young magnolia from scorching and stalling.

Water. This is the biggest lever in the first two summers. Magnolias have shallow, wide roots that dry out fast, so consistent deep watering during establishment does more for growth than anything else. An XLUX moisture meter takes the guesswork out, reading soil moisture at root depth so you water on the tree’s schedule. Once the tree is established, an organic slow-release feed like Espoma Tree-Tone in early spring supports steady growth without forcing weak wood.

How many years until a magnolia blooms

Growth rate and bloom timing aren’t the same thing. A magnolia can be putting on height for years before it flowers, and the wait depends on the species.

Star magnolia and saucer magnolia are the early birds. They flower in late winter to early spring, before the leaves come out. Clemson notes saucer magnolia opens in March and April, possibly February along the coast, and star magnolia in late February and March. Grafted nursery trees often bloom within 2 to 3 years of planting.

Southern magnolia blooms later and bigger. Clemson reports it blooms in May and June, with some cultivars flowering sporadically into summer. A seed-grown Southern magnolia can take 10 years or more to bloom, but a named cultivar like ‘Little Gem’ starts much sooner, as early as April on young plants.

Sweetbay flowers latest. NC State notes it blooms in mid-spring and continues sporadically until frost, giving you the longest flowering window of the group.

The early bloomers come with a catch. Those late-winter flowers on saucer and star magnolia get nipped by a hard frost in a cold snap, and there goes the show for the year. If you want reliable blooms, see our spring flowering trees guide for timing tips.

Mature size to plan for

Slow-growing or not, magnolias get big, and planting one too close to the house is the mistake I see most often.

• Southern magnolia: 60 to 80 feet tall, 30 to 50 feet wide. Give it room. Branches sweep to the ground.
• Saucer magnolia: 15 to 30 feet tall and about as wide. A good front-yard size.
• Star magnolia: 15 to 20 feet tall, 10 to 15 feet wide. Closer to a large shrub.
• Sweetbay: 10 to 35 feet in most yards, narrower and more upright than the others.
• ‘Little Gem’: 15 to 20 feet tall, 8 to 10 feet wide. The pick for tight spots.

All sizes are from NC State Extension and Clemson, linked above. Plan for the mature spread, not the nursery pot. A Southern magnolia planted 10 feet from the foundation will have its roots and limbs into your house long before it’s done growing.

Frequently asked questions

Are magnolia trees fast growing? Mostly no. Most magnolias grow at a slow to medium rate, 1 to 2 feet a year, per Clemson and NC State Extension. Star magnolia is slow, well under a foot a year, and saucer magnolia runs about a foot a year. The exception is sweetbay magnolia, which NC State rates as rapid at 2-plus feet a year. If quick growth is the goal, sweetbay is the magnolia to plant.

How long until a magnolia blooms? It depends on the species and whether it’s grafted. Grafted saucer and star magnolias often bloom within 2 to 3 years of planting, flowering in late winter to early spring. Southern magnolia blooms in May and June, and a named cultivar like ‘Little Gem’ can flower as early as its first few years, while a seed-grown one may take 10 years or more.

How fast does a Southern magnolia grow? Southern magnolia grows at a slow to medium rate of 1 to 2 feet a year, per Clemson HGIC. At that pace it takes a couple of decades to reach its mature 60 to 80 feet, so plan for the long game and give it space from day one.

Which magnolia grows the fastest? Sweetbay magnolia. NC State Extension rates it as the only rapid grower in the group, at 2-plus feet a year, while Southern, saucer, star, and ‘Little Gem’ all grow slower. Sweetbay also handles wet soil better than the others, which is worth knowing if you’ve got a soggy spot.