Cucumbertree is the only magnolia native to the northern part of eastern North America, reaching 90 feet in rich cove forests of the Appalachians. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers are inconspicuous, but its unusual cucumber-shaped green fruit clusters ripen to red in September, attracting birds with the red seeds. It is an ecologically significant component of old-growth cove forests.
Best time to see a Cucumbertree
The best time to see a Cucumbertree is April–August, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,904 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Cucumbertree? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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