A common deciduous medium-sized to large tree native to the southern Appalachians. The large, simple, tropical-looking leaves have auriculate (earlobe-shaped) bases. Fraser Magnolia is similar to the more widespread Umbrella-Tree (M. tripetala), which never gets large and lacks the earlobes. The rare Bigleaf Magnolia (M. macrophylla) has auriculate leaf bases, but is smaller and has much larger leaves.

Alternate common names include Mountain Magnolia, Earleaf Magnolia, and Earleaf Umbrella-tree

This tree is about 70 feet tall, one of many large Fraser Magnolia trees in this area.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Leaves are normally about 12 inches long and broadest above the middle.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

In fall the leaves quickly turn pale green, yellow, then brown.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Bark of a small tree. Like that of most other Magnolias, the bark is somewhat smoothish, but covered with warty lenticels.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Bark of a large tree.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Large tree with remnants of old wounds made by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

Trees are frequently multi-trunked. This is a large tree, with each trunk about 1.5 to 2 feet in diameter.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

An even larger multi-trunked tree, with cat for scale. This is a former state champion - the large limb the cat is near blew down not long after this photo was taken.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.