When visiting the Atlanta History Center in downtown Atlanta, Georgia last summer, I eagerly began taking pictures of what I thought were the largest umbrella magnolia trees I had ever seen. However, I soon noticed that the banana tree-like leaves on these trees had ear-shaped bases instead of wedge-shaped bases. These were actually bigleaf magnolia trees, the first I had encountered. I was looking at a rarely found tree species that boasts the largest simple leaf and largest single flower of any native plant in North America. Finding this species made my visit to the Center memorable.
The bigleaf magnolia, or Magnolia macrophylla, is native to the southeastern United States but is not 
common anywhere. It is rarely found except in woody ravines and river valleys which provide protection from strong winds that may shred its large leaves. The tree is most often an understory that tolerates part shade, but it grows best in full sun. It typically grows 30 to 40 or more feet tall, with a pyramidal shape that develops a spreading rounded crown with age. The trunk is straight and typically grows in clumps. The bark is thin and grayish brown, and it develops scaly plates with age.
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the bigleaf magnolia is its banana tree-like leaves which may be 12 to 36 inches long and 7 to 12 inches wide. They appear bright shiny green 
above and tomentose silver gray underneath. Leaf veins appear pinnate, or like a feather. The tree is deciduous and fall color is yellow. Leaf ear-shaped bases are attached to petioles which are 2 to 4 inches long. The leaves are alternate and simple, often crowded near the ends of the twigs somewhat like an umbrella.
Trees may take 12 or more years to begin flowering. Fragrant blooms appear in May, and though these cup-shaped flowers are typically 8 to 10 or more inches wide they are not always easy to see as they sit above the large umbrella-shaped clusters of leaves. Flowers have 6 white outer petals and 3 inner petals having purple stains near their base. Flowers have both male and female parts and are pollinated by insects. The fruit is an egg-shaped cone-like pod which is 2 to 3 inches long, with red berry-like seeds lining the outside which draw birds in late summer to early fall.
The tropical appearance of the bigleaf magnolia is eye-catching. This is a tree that is easy to identify and very rewarding to find.