Can you identify this tree?

Cheryl
by Cheryl
One of my neighbors has this tree in his yard, I love it and would like to plant one in my front bed but I can't get in touch with him to find out what it is. It's growing in a south suburb of Atlanta. Anyone have a clue?
  6 answers
  • Nancy Hand Nancy Hand on Jun 12, 2013
    Native Magnolia they love shade. Very pretty flower! :)
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Jun 12, 2013
    I agree with @Nancy Hand , looks like a Magnolia macrophylla which is also called Big leaf Magnolia, a native here in our southeastern region. It is a deciduous tree but looks almost tropical with those big leaves.
  • Catherine Smith Catherine Smith on Jun 13, 2013
    Agreed, have a Magnolia Grandiflora and one of the Little Girl hybrids. Be careful where you plant it, as Magnolias like Black Walnuts do not place nicely with others. They also put out a type of juglone. And they do do better with an occasional feeding of mycorrhiza bacteria, it helps them increase their root system.
  • Jill Jill on Jun 13, 2013
    Yep, it's a Big Leaf Magnolia. They start blooming at a young age and you can already see a flower bud coming out on the left side of your picture. Some times they don't have the frilly looking leaves and they are a much darker green. Just remember they get to be very large, usually 30' tall by 30' food wide. If that is too big for you, you can always ask at a local nursery for one that grows smaller. We have them all over our city and I love taking a large blossom and floating it in a large dish. Enjoy!
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jun 13, 2013
    Thank you all, I read that they will grow in the understory but can they take direct sun?
  • Jill Jill on Jun 14, 2013
    They prefer direct light.