Magnolia, Cucumber Magnolia

A handsome large specimen/shade/lawn tree for large landscapes (parks, golf courses, etc). It is pyramidal only when young, forming a rou...Read Morended crown with maturity if given room.

Dirr gives its hardiness limit as Z(3)4.

According to the Illinois Poison Control Center, magnolias are completely non-toxic to humans. http://illinoispoisoncenter.org/plant-list
The California Poison Control System says the same:
http://www.calpoison.org/hcp/KNOW YOUR PLANTS-plant list for...

I've seen planted specimens in a few spots, not many, in northeast Illinois, where the soil is slightly alkaline usually, and southeast P...Read Moreennsylvania with slightly or medium acid soils. Good looking coarse textured tree. Does not tolerate strong drought or poorly drained soils. Planted in good quality soil, not hard construction soil, it is usually reliable.

Rather large impressive forest tree with yellow spring flowers and huge leaves. These trees get quite tall. I have not grown this species...Read More but about a dozen or so mature specimens occure near a bottomland stream on my land. They would probably make a striking specimen tree.

I bought this tree as a 1 ft. seedling. Two years in a row it has started growing and doing well, then about mid-summer the leaves have ...Read Moreturned brown and dropped. I suspect the tree is burning in too much afternoon sun (zone 7b), so am transplanting it to a spot that will be shaded in the afternoon. I would appreciate any comments from anyone else who has this tree.