The range of magnolia extends from eastern North Carolina, south along the Atlantic Coast to the Peace River in central Florida, then westward through roughly the southern half of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and across Louisiana into southeast Texas. It is most prevalent in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Magnolias are large trees, 65 to 80 feet high (rarely 100 feet), with broad pyramidal shape and cone-shaped crown; the trunk is tall, straight and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The wood is even-textured and moderately heavy, fairly hard, and straight grained. It resembles yellow poplar. Magnolia is moderately stiff, high in shock resistance, and low in shrinkage. It has no characteristic odor or taste.

It grows with other hardwoods and is marketed as magnolia lumber along with other magnolia species to make furniture, interior finish, pallets, and veneer. With magnolia wood there is no difference in color between the heart and sapwood so the grain pattern is consistent throughout.

Magnolia has average nail-holding ability, is readily worked, and glues, paints, and finishes well.