Grow for shade. Inconspicuous flowers and colorful cucumber-shaped seedpods. Branches often skirt ground. Beautiful, fast-growing specimen.
Saucer
(M. x soulangiana)
Type: Deciduous
Zone: 6
Height and Width: 25' tall, 25' wide
Shade Density: Light
Fall Foliage: Brown
Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained
Comments
Use as specimen. Five- to 10- inch white-purple cup-shaped flowers cover tree in early spring before leaves appear. Attractive slate-gray bark.
Southern
(M. grandiflora)
Type: Broad-leaved evergreen
Zone: 7
Height and Width: 90' tall, 80' wide
Shade Density: Medium to dense
Fall Foliage: Not Applicable
Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained
Comments
Many varieties. Use as shade trees in large yards and street trees in the South. Old leaves replaced every two years. Eight-inch white flowers in spring and summer.