Star Magnolia is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. Its mid spring flowers are a moderate draw for native bees.
Star Magnolia — the short answer
Star Magnolia: grown in zones 4–8, part sun, pH 5–7.
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Hardy to zone 4 — NCSU Plant Toolbox.
- Soil pH
- 5–7
- Growable Ground Plant Database
- Sun
- Part Sun
- Growable Ground Plant Database
Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — each tile names its own row's source, because per-field provenance varies.
Score Star Magnolia on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether star magnolia actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score star magnolia against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your parcel report in seconds — read in full free for your first 14 days
See Star Magnolia
What Star Magnolia is
Star Magnolia grows as a perennial and reaches around 26 feet at maturity. It blooms white in mid spring.
How to grow Star Magnolia
Star Magnolia grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. Star Magnolia does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
4-8
Rated hardy to zone 4 by NCSU Plant Toolbox, checked Oct 2026. Ceiling: NCSU Plant Toolbox (read 2026-10-06).
Soil pH
5 - 7
Growable Ground Plant Database
Sun
Part Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
26 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set star magnolia in part sun with well-drained soil.
Match the soil
Star Magnolia prefers pH 5 to 7 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Shape it while it is young
Prune star magnolia only to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches while it is young; it is grown for its form, not a harvest, so little more is needed once it settles in.
Where Star Magnolia thrives
Star Magnolia is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
A USDA zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme winter minimum, so zones 4–8 spans average winter lows from -30°F to 20°F (USDA PHZM 2023). Across the 50 states and DC, that band covers 25 outright and splits 26 more down the middle — and which side of that line your land sits on changes the answer.
Zones 4–8·Where Star Magnolia growsOpen map →
This map is derived from the USDA ARS / PRISM Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) and is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Where Star Magnolia stands, state by state
Star Magnolia is rated for zones 4–8 — a cold floor USDA puts at -30 to -20°F. Across the 50 states and DC, 25 sit fully inside that band, the line runs through 26 more, and 0 sit outside it — and inside every split state, the same line runs on at county grain.
Fully inside zones 4–8
25 states
3 of 25 shown
State zone extents: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) 2023. A zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme minimum temperature, so a state that splits the band contains the boundary — its own page draws the county line, and a parcel report resolves which side your land sits on.
What grows around Star Magnolia
Growing guides for star magnolia
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — star magnolia isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Star Magnolia offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Your land is one point inside Star Magnolia's range
This page resolves to the species. Your state page draws the county line, and a report reads the parcel — the soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates on your exact ground, which no species average can see.
See if Star Magnolia will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether star magnolia actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
How we know this about Star Magnolia
The figures above are cited per row, not per site: the pH band names this plant’s own source column, the three temperature figures each carry their own, and days-to-maturity cites the publication that actually lists it. All of it comes from the Growable Ground Plant Database — a compilation over FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources, published openly with per-field provenance.
Grounded inUSDA PLANTS Database•ASPCA
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow Star Magnolia in my zone?
Star Magnolia grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8 (Rated hardy to zone 4 by NCSU Plant Toolbox, checked Oct 2026. Ceiling: NCSU Plant Toolbox (read 2026-10-06).). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Star Magnolia?
Set star magnolia out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Star Magnolia need?
Star Magnolia does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Star Magnolia need?
Star Magnolia prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Star Magnolia attract pollinators?
Yes — star magnolia's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees.
Is Star Magnolia safe for pets?
Star Magnolia is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)
Keep exploring Star Magnolia
Star Magnolia state by state
Every state star magnolia's zone reaches — 1 link straight to that state's star magnolia growing page; the rest open the state's full growing guide.