This is a small tree ( 20-60 feet in height). It is usually multiple stemmed.

Leaves:
 Arrangement: alternate, simple

 Shape: oblong to elliptical

 Margin: entire

 Texture: white/silvery glaucous beneath

 Variation: parallel

It has thin, light brown, often mottled, scaly bark.

Twigs are pubescent and pale green. Buds are long and curled at their ends.

Flowers are white and cup-shaped. Fruit is an aggregate of follicles.

Leaves have a silver underside. In contrast, southern magnolia has a brown underside.

It occurs naturally along the Atlantic coastal plain from New Jersey to east Texas.

It has intermediate tolerance to shade and often occurs on acid soils of swamps and lowland coastal plains.

Wood used for furniture, venation blinds, popcicle sticks and tongue depressors. White-tail deer browse this species.