Southern Magnolia — Grown by Southeast Experts
Santa Fe Tree Company grows Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) in containers on 125+ acres in Alachua, Florida. We supply landscapers, garden centers, municipalities, and commercial projects that need a true southern evergreen specimen, not a catalog tree shipped in from somewhere else.
The Southeast grower for wholesale Southern Magnolia
Santa Fe Tree Company grows Southern Magnolia at wholesale scale in North Florida. Trees leave the nursery already adapted to southern heat, humidity, and the soils landscapers actually plant into across the Southeast.
Most magnolias sold online are produced far from the job site. Ours are container-grown here, graded for uniformity, and sold on contract so a campus allée, estate entrance, or commercial buffer can be staged without guesswork. That is the difference between ordering a catalog plant and working with a grower.
Founded by Robert Milliken. Magnolias are grown to the same standard we use on our own farm.
Active container production of magnolias, evergreens, hollies, and woody ornamentals.
3, 7, 15, and 30 gallon containers. Other sizes on request.
What is a Southern Magnolia?
The Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a majestic evergreen tree treasured for its glossy, dark green leaves and large, fragrant white blooms that appear throughout summer.
The iconic creamy-white flowers, which can reach up to 12 inches in diameter, give way to distinctive rose-colored seed pods that attract birds and add winter interest. Leaves are thick and leathery, often with a rusty-brown underside on the species.
It is a native of the southeastern coastal plain, including North Florida. We grow it because it earns its keep on real jobs: specimen trees, estate entrances, campus rows, and long-lived evergreen screens where a cypress would be the wrong plant.
Southern Magnolia growing specs
Mature size is typically 60–80 feet tall and 30–50 feet wide. Hardy in USDA zones 7–9. Best in full sun to light afternoon shade, in well-drained soil.
| Trait | Field standard |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Magnolia grandiflora |
| Common names | Southern Magnolia, bull bay |
| Habit | Broad pyramidal evergreen; dense crown with age |
| Growth rate | Moderate, about 1–2 feet per year once established |
| Mature size | 60–80 ft tall × 30–50 ft wide |
| Flowers | Creamy white, fragrant, up to 12 inches across, late spring through summer |
| Fruit | Cone-like pods with rose-red seeds; winter interest and bird food |
| USDA zones | 7–9 |
| Sun | Full sun; light afternoon shade helps young trees in inland Florida heat |
| Soil | Well-drained loam, sand, or clay. Slightly acidic is ideal. No standing water. |
| Salt | Moderate at best — not for exposed coastal spray |
| Roots | Shallow. Keep off walks, drives, and foundations. |
| Our wholesale sizes | 3, 7, 15, and 30 gallon containers (other sizes on request) |
How far apart to plant Southern Magnolias
This is a specimen tree, not a tight hedge. Give it room for the crown and the shallow roots. For a formal row, plant 20–25 feet on center. For an informal screen, 15–20 feet.
| Goal | Spacing | Notes from the nursery |
|---|---|---|
| Single specimen | 25–30 ft from structures | Leaves drop year-round. Do not park it over a pool deck or tight courtyard. |
| Estate or campus row | 20–25 ft on center | Best look for entrances and allées. Uniform 15g and 30g grade cleanest. |
| Informal evergreen screen | 15–20 ft on center | Fills, but never as tight as Green Giant or Leyland. Air and light matter. |
| Solar or property buffer | Staggered row, 18–22 ft | Use where the design wants a broadleaf evergreen, not a conifer wall. |
How to plant a container-grown Southern Magnolia
Plant in spring or fall. Set the root flare at grade, water through the first year, and mulch off the trunk. Do not fertilize at planting. Do not bury the flare — magnolias fail when the trunk is planted deep.
Site it for the South
Full sun is ideal. Light afternoon shade helps young trees in the hottest inland Florida and South Georgia sites. Avoid standing water and heavy road salt.
Dig wide, not deep
Hole twice the container width, no deeper than the root ball. The flare must sit at finished grade.
Backfill with native soil
Do not create a pot of imported mix in heavy clay. Settle soil with water as you fill.
Water the first season like it matters
Established trees handle dry spells. New containers in Florida heat do not. Weekly deep watering is the difference between a flush and a stalled plant.
Leave the shears alone
The habit is naturally broad and pyramidal. Prune only dead wood or a crossing branch. Do not try to turn it into a hedge.
Southern Magnolia vs. Green Giant and Leyland
We grow all three. Southern Magnolia is the specimen and broadleaf evergreen. Green Giant and Leyland are the fast conifer screens. Spec the plant to the job, not the catalog photo.
| Southern Magnolia | Thuja Green Giant | Leyland Cypress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Specimen, allée, broadleaf screen | Long-lived privacy wall | Fastest fill |
| Growth | 1–2 ft / year | 3–5 ft / year | 3–4 ft / year |
| Look | Glossy leaves, white flowers, red seed | Dense green pyramid | Feathery blue-green pyramid |
| Zones we spec | 7–9 | 5–9 | 6–10 |
| Best use | Entrances, campuses, estate trees | Privacy and windbreaks | Fast screens where service life is acceptable |
Need a fast screen instead? We grow Thuja Green Giant and Leyland Cypress on the same farm. Tell us the site and we will spec the right evergreen.
Wholesale Southern Magnolias for real projects
Santa Fe Tree Company sells to landscape contractors, re-wholesale nurseries, garden centers, municipalities, and construction developers across the eastern United States. If the job needs a uniform row, a staged delivery, or a size that is hard to source, we grow it or find it.
Consistent 15g and 30g material that installs clean and matches from truck to truck.
Specimen rows for campuses, entrances, and civic sites.
3g and 7g for retail, plus larger cans for landscape resale.
Southern Magnolia questions we answer every week
Who grows Southern Magnolias for wholesale in the Southeast?
Santa Fe Tree Company in Alachua, Florida. We are a family container nursery growing magnolias, hollies, and evergreens for landscapers and commercial buyers across the eastern United States.
Where can I buy Southern Magnolias in bulk?
Order from the farm. We offer 3, 7, 15, and 30 gallon containers, contract pricing, and coordinated delivery. Call (352) 339-0531 or email sales@santafetreeco.com.
What zone is Southern Magnolia hardy in?
We spec it for USDA zones 7–9. It is a southeastern native and a strong performer in North Florida, South Georgia, and the coastal plain when the site drains.
How fast do they grow?
Expect about 1–2 feet a year after establishment. This is not a Green Giant. Buy the size you need for the opening, especially on commercial jobs.
Will they work on a wet site?
No. They want moisture, not a swamp. If the hole holds water after a storm, fix drainage or choose a different tree.
Do you deliver?
Yes. We build truck loads for cost efficiency and deliver bulk orders across the eastern United States.
Ready to spec Southern Magnolias from the farm?
Tell us the count, the size, and the job site. We will send current availability, timing, and freight. Grown in Alachua. Delivered where the work is.
Santa Fe Tree Company · 26212 NW CR 241, Alachua, FL 32615 · (352) 339-0531