The leaves of the anise magnolia resemble those of a willow tree or shrub. While they are not as wide as a typical magnolia leaf, they are wider than willow leaves (willow-leaf magnolia is another traditional name for them).
The bigleaf magnolia tree stands up to its name, bearing leaves as long as 32 inches. Similar to the majority of magnolias, it is typically a deciduous tree, yet in warmer climates it can become evergreen.
With proper pruning, Ashe's magnolia can grow into a small tree or a large shrub. Given that its leaves can grow up to two feet long, it is occasionally regarded as a subspecies of the bigleaf magnolia.
The fruits of the cucumber tree magnolia bear a resemblance to the vegetable, hence the name. Although it possesses the enormous glossy leaves (up to 10 inches long) and large growth habit of the classic southern magnolias, this variety of magnolia is the most cold-hardy.
One of the smallest kinds, the lily magnolia grows as a tiny tree or shrub. This shrub blooms a massive flood of mildly fragrant pink or reddish-purple, lily-shaped flowers in early spring before the leaves emerge. 'Nigra' is a popular cultivar that is well-known for its richly colored blossoms.
Slow-growing Kobus magnolias have enormous, dark-green leaves and fragrant, pink-tinged white flowers that arrive before the leaves open, among other classic magnolia characteristics. It is most frequently planted as a specimen tree where early-season blossoms are desired.
A hybrid known as the Loebner magnolia is the result of crossing Kobus and star magnolias. Usually this little tree has several stems, but with a little pruning you can have a central leader. Before the leaves develop in the spring, fragrant, star-shaped pink and white flowers.
The saucer magnolia, which is a hybrid of the lily and Yulan magnolias, can grow to be a tiny tree or a huge shrub with several stems. Usually in early April, before the leaves develop, are the white blossoms with pink inside. There are numerous varieties that produce various purple bloom colors.