Considerations

• Magnolia trees grow best when planted in a location with full to partial sun. Young seedlings need protection from hot summer sunlight in the afternoon. Erect a sunshade beside the young magnolia tree until it is a few years old.
  
  

Significance

• Magnolia trees need a location with fertile, good-draining soil with access to plenty of water. Wild magnolia trees grow near streams and swampy areas.
  
  

Warning

• Magnolia trees prefer a site with a pH level between 5.0 and 6.5. Do not attempt to adjust the acidity of the soil without testing the pH level first.
  
  

Geography

• Old-fashioned magnolia trees grow outside without protection in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. The newest varieties can withstand cold down to zone 5.