Cucumber Magnolia

Description
Cucumber Tree is a native deciduous tree found in eastern North America. The tree is found naturally in subxeric forests (especially over rock) and in moist to dry slopes. It will grow 60-80 feet tall with a pyramidal crown and a straight trunk. The trunk diameter can reach 3-4 feet.
This is a deciduous magnolia that produces 2-4 inch slightly-fragrant, greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers at the twig tips in late spring, but is named for the green, warty, cucumber-shaped fruits that follow the flowers. The leaves have nice yellow-gold fall color. Cone-like fruits mature to a showy red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity.
This plant tolerates a wide range of pH and prefers moist well-drained soil with organic matter in full sun to partial shade. It is sensitive to heat and drought, and has a low soil compaction tolerance.
These trees cast dense shade, and are beautifully symmetrical making them a park, residential and golf course tree of preference.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Magnolia scale is a potential problem.