What kind of (Magnolia?) tree is this (SF Bay Area)?
March 21, 2022 2:55 PM Subscribe
We're wondering what kind of tree this is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Images as of 3/21: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Our best guess is some kind of Magnolia, but we usually think of Magnolias as dropping their leaves and flowering with bare branches, but this one never dropped its leaves in winter. We've seen both bare-branched flowering trees we're pretty sure are Magnolias and more trees we think are the same as this one in the area.
Our best guess is some kind of Magnolia, but we usually think of Magnolias as dropping their leaves and flowering with bare branches, but this one never dropped its leaves in winter. We've seen both bare-branched flowering trees we're pretty sure are Magnolias and more trees we think are the same as this one in the area.
Looks pretty close to the one that was at my parents house while I was growing up in the East Bay. It didn't have bare branches when flowering. I still see the leaves on the ground, so there must be more among the neighbors. If you saw leaves on the ground and they were shell-like or brittle, I think that's getting closer.
I always thought it was "regular magnolia," :D but I'll ask her.
posted by rhizome at 4:09 PM on March 21, 2022
I always thought it was "regular magnolia," :D but I'll ask her.
posted by rhizome at 4:09 PM on March 21, 2022
Response by poster: Southern Magnolia seems correct to me especially when taking into account the info in the article linked by Sweetie Darling. A lot of the other trees in the area we think are the same one are indeed planted along sidewalks.
I’m marking Sweetie’s answer as best because it was first and the linked article is a great resource but will keep checking back in case other people have input.
It may well be that other people think of the southern one as normal but I just hadn’t recognized them as magnolias because the deciduous ones are so striking :).
posted by unus sum at 4:21 PM on March 21, 2022
I’m marking Sweetie’s answer as best because it was first and the linked article is a great resource but will keep checking back in case other people have input.
It may well be that other people think of the southern one as normal but I just hadn’t recognized them as magnolias because the deciduous ones are so striking :).
posted by unus sum at 4:21 PM on March 21, 2022
Yes, magnolias are common in the SF Bay Area--they don't lose all their leaves but will lose some here and there as they blossom. They will have HUGE white blossoms, petals about the size of a hand. Our City Forest is a San Jose based tree planting program has some info on the magnolia grandiflora.
posted by assenav at 4:21 PM on March 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by assenav at 4:21 PM on March 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
The blossoms smell so good - like lemon with a bit of sweetness, but not cloying. I've been known to walk the dog with pruners in my pocket when they're in bloom.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:32 PM on March 21, 2022
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:32 PM on March 21, 2022
I’ve always wanted to drink a soft drink that tastes like Magnolia flowers smell…
posted by Windopaene at 5:52 PM on March 21, 2022
posted by Windopaene at 5:52 PM on March 21, 2022
There's a magnolia blooming outside my bedroom window right now. If you happen to be in SF, someone gives amazing tree tours- I don't know the name, but I happened to be walking behind them on the sidewalk the other day near Duboce Park and they were pointing out landmark trees. It was pretty interesting.
posted by pinochiette at 7:44 PM on March 21, 2022
posted by pinochiette at 7:44 PM on March 21, 2022
If it's a street tree in San Francisco proper, you can look it up on this map! If it's another city nearby, they may have a similar map — most reasonable big cities in the US do.
posted by wesleyac at 12:27 AM on March 22, 2022
posted by wesleyac at 12:27 AM on March 22, 2022
If you happen to be in SF, someone gives amazing tree tours
Possibly the Friends of the Urban Forest (The FUF!)
posted by rhizome at 1:21 AM on March 22, 2022
Possibly the Friends of the Urban Forest (The FUF!)
posted by rhizome at 1:21 AM on March 22, 2022
Btw magnolia flowers are edible and taste like ginger with a hint of cardamom. You can eat the raw, fry them up as fritters, or pickle them.
Also the SF Botanical Garden has a section with every kind of magnolia if you want to see more.
posted by ananci at 7:14 AM on March 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also the SF Botanical Garden has a section with every kind of magnolia if you want to see more.
posted by ananci at 7:14 AM on March 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Sweetie Darling at 3:36 PM on March 21, 2022 [1 favorite]