Challenge -- ID this sapling

last month

Challenge means it won't be easy to ID for most. Like my other challenges, this is not common in my area, but there are usually an isolated wild specimen here or there, and this is just down the road from me. The parent is right close by. Similarly, isolated specimens occurred in the wooded area I used to live in southwest VA. Only clues I'll give are the leaves are simple and the adult trees can easily reach the forest canopy.

Featured Answer

bengz6westmd
Original Author

last month

last modified: last month

@OF: The pic above had no description of the exact OH location, but I have another cucumber magnolia pic that is in Colonial Heights, VA.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
last month
The image Im viewing isnt particually sharp. Cant see the leaf edges very well. Just going on whats in the photo I would guess either beech or persimmon.
bengz6westmd thanked Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
artinnaturez8b
last month
could it be.......Magnolia acuminata?
bengz6westmd thanked artinnaturez8b
Related Professionals
Gulfport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jamestown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Charlottesville Landscape Contractors · Bismarck Landscape Contractors · Portland Landscape Contractors · Anchorage Landscape Contractors · Dubuque Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Muskegon Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Cleveland Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Scranton Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Calgary Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Cheyenne Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chico Landscape Contractors · Cape Coral Home Additions · Clarksville Home Additions
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last month
I’m going with paw paw
bengz6westmd thanked L Clark (zone 4 WY)
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
Can you give us an indication of the size of those leaves?
bengz6westmd thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
bengz6westmd
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
Leaves edges have smooth margins.

Leaves are around 6-8 inches long in the specimen here, but sometimes larger.

PS: L Clark, that would be some awesome paw-paw to get up into a forest canopy!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
6 - 8 inches! I was imagining something the size of a beech leaf. That information really cuts down the possibilities.
bengz6westmd thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
last month
" the adult trees can easily reach the forest canopy. " This would seem to rule out pawpaw?

M. acuminata seems the best guess so far.
bengz6westmd thanked UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
bengz6westmd
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
Ding, ding, ding. Artinnature gets it first. The parent of the sapling is low down along the road, and here's another just up the slope next to neighbor's driveway. As can be seen, it's a canopy tree.

PS: I'd be tempted to transplant the sapling nearer to or on my lot, but it's on too steep a slope, leading down from the road's edge.
Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
last month
I worked as a professional forester for 50 yrs. and have treaded across thousands of acres from Ohio to Ga. Only encountered cucumber tree a few times. Never saw a stand of cucumbers trees. We did have one on the north Ga property that was 40-50 ft tall. My mother in law didnt believe me when I told her what is was. Unfortunetly, we lost the tree due to as land slip.
bengz6westmd thanked Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
bengz6westmd
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
@O.F. - thanks for the story. The one I show above is prb'ly near 90 ft tall & the other mentioned about that same height. There are pics of gigantic ones like this one in Ohio. They are one of the few trees that have some brown in the mature trunk bark instead of the usual varying shades of gray.
Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
last month
Ive seen a few big ones but nothing like that ! Curious, what part of Ohio is that tree. I worked for several years in the SE part.
bengz6westmd thanked Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
arbordave (SE MI)
last month
beng, I believe the one in OH that you posted above is the national champion in North Canton (Stark County). Cucumber Magnolia gatheringgrowth.org
bengz6westmd thanked arbordave (SE MI)
artinnaturez8b
last month
last modified: last month
I've only seen the species on a couple of occasions and they've all been immense. There is a biggie here in Portland in Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden -- csrgpdx.org
bengz6westmd thanked artinnaturez8b
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last month
These trees are rated zone 3?? wow. Maybe I could grow one
bengz6westmd thanked L Clark (zone 4 WY)
bengz6westmd
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
arbordave, I had that site bookmarked, but can't remember when I ever looked at it. Very interesting that the national champion Fraser fir is in Harrisonburg, VA, where I'm alittle familiar with. Not surprising, it's in a cemetery.

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/champion-trees/fraser-fir

PS: Pretty cool site to browse thru.