When Do Magnolia Trees Stop Dropping Leaves?

The fallen leaf from a southern magnolia.

Among the more common deciduous magnolias found in gardens are the star and saucer magnolias, both dropping their leaves in mid-autumn. The southern magnolia is evergreen and will shed its oldest leaves all year long.

Time Frame

The southern magnolia sheds its oldest leaves during drought conditions in summer and the chilly days of fall. The annual drop of leaves is heaviest in spring. Leaves may still drop in winter, but minimally compared to fall.

Considerations

Southern magnolia leaves are rich in fiber and dry with a firm, crispy texture. The high fiber and lignin content in this evergreen makes the fallen leaves very slow to decompose. Chopping up the fallen leaves hastens their decomposition and makes the bed under magnolias a bit more visually appealing. Leaves of deciduous magnolias are thinner and decompose faster based on their size.

Warning

Take a close look the magnolia tree. Pests like scale insects and leaf miners, along with diseases like leaf spot, may exacerbate leaf drop. If an unusually high number of leaves are dropping, a pest or disease may be present and may need addressing to preserve the health of the tree.

References

• Fort Valley State University: Problems With Magnolias
• "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"; Christopher Brickell and H. Marc Cathey, eds.; 2004

Resources

• The U.S. National Arboretum: Magnolia Questions and Answers