Magnolia Trees Delivered and Planted in Cape Coral and Fort Myers
Big glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers make southern magnolia a classic Southern shade tree, and it grows in Southwest Florida if you give it the right spot. It sits at the warm end of its range here, so it does best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with room to spread and regular water. Our crew sets 15 and 25 gallon trees at the right depth and waters them in.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; young trees like some shade while establishing
- Water:
- Moderate; regular water for the first two years, tolerates dry spells once established
- Salt:
- Moderate: handles salt spray, poor in salty or brackish soil
Magnolia Tree sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Magnolia Tree | 15 Gallon, 25 Gallon |
Magnolia Tree in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 40 to 80 ft tall and 30 to 40 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; young trees like some shade while establishing
- Water
- Moderate; regular water for the first two years, tolerates dry spells once established
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate: handles salt spray, poor in salty or brackish soil
- Cold tolerance
- Fully cold hardy; frost is not a concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 30 to 40 ft between trees, and 25 ft or more from the house
- Florida native
- Yes, Florida native
- Botanical name
- Magnolia grandiflora
Where Magnolia Tree works in a SW Florida yard
Southern magnolia is a big, dense evergreen, so use it as the anchor of a large yard: a front-lawn specimen, a corner screen, or the backdrop behind a flower bed. Give it a wide, open spot, at least 25 to 30 ft from the house, drive and pool, because the roots spread far and leaves and seed cones drop through the year.
Grass will not grow well under that dense shade, so mulch a wide ring or underplant with liriope or mondo grass. Live oak and bald cypress are good tree companions on a larger property.
- Large-lot shade trees
- Evergreen privacy screens
- Fragrant specimen trees
- Front-lawn focal trees
- Backdrop for flower beds
How our crew plants it
Make the hole two to three times wider than the root ball and no deeper, and set the root flare an inch or two above the soil to allow for settling. Backfill with the native soil rather than a rich pocket, so roots reach out. Lay a 3 inch mulch ring, pulled back from the trunk.
Water in thoroughly and keep the root zone moist, using the extra watering days Lee and Collier give new plantings, then drop back to your assigned two. Stake only if the tree rocks in wind.
Care after planting
- Water deeply once or twice a week through the first dry season or two, then only in long dry spells.
- Keep a wide mulch ring so the root zone stays moist and grass does not compete with young roots.
- Feed in early spring and again in October with a slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving trees; the June 1 to September 30 ban rules out anything with nitrogen or phosphorus in between.
- Prune only dead wood and the low limbs you need to clear, since magnolias hold their branches close to the ground and look best that way.
- Expect some old leaves to yellow and drop in spring as new growth pushes out; that is normal.
What to watch for
- Alkaline soil causes iron chlorosis, with yellow leaves and green veins, so test the soil pH before planting and plan on chelated iron if it runs alkaline.
- Magnolia scale, borers and leaf spots are the usual troubles, and a well-watered tree handles most of them.
- Big leaves and cones make steady litter on patios, pools and lawns, so site it away from places you want kept clean.
Magnolia Tree questions we hear
Does southern magnolia grow well in Cape Coral and Fort Myers?+
It grows here, but it sits at the warm edge of its range, so site and soil decide how it does. Give it full sun to light shade, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, deep watering the first two years and mulch. In very alkaline or poorly drained soil it struggles and yellows.
How fast does a magnolia tree grow?+
At a moderate pace. With regular water, mulch and decent soil, expect roughly a foot or two of height a year, and less in poor sandy or alkaline ground. It takes many years to reach 40 ft or more, so starting with a 15 or 25 gallon tree gives you a head start.
How far from the house should I plant a magnolia?+
At least 25 to 30 ft from the house, driveway, pool and underground lines. Southern magnolia roots spread wider than most other trees, and the canopy reaches 30 to 40 ft across. Dense low branches and leaf litter also make it a poor fit for a small lot.
Why are my magnolia leaves turning yellow and dropping?+
Some yellowing and leaf drop in spring is normal as new growth pushes out. Widespread yellowing with green veins points to iron chlorosis from alkaline soil, and yellowing with wilting points to too much or too little water. Check soil pH and drainage before adding fertilizer.
Is magnolia salt tolerant for a canal lot?+
Partly. UF/IFAS rates southern magnolia highly tolerant of salt spray, but it does poorly in salty or brackish soil. A lot a few blocks from the water usually works. At a seawall edge, pigeon plum, live oak or silver buttonwood are more reliable choices.
When does magnolia bloom in Florida?+
In late spring, with scattered flowers through the summer. The blooms are white, fragrant and 5 to 8 inches wide. Plant the tree where you can smell the flowers from a patio or entry.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Magnolia Tree
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.