Magnolia acuminata aka Cucumber Tree

Magnolia acuminata, also known as the cucumber tree or blue magnolia, is a large forest tree native to the Eastern United States and Southern Ontario in Canada. It is one of the largest and cold-hardiest magnolias. The tree tends to occur singly as scattered specimens rather than in groves. Its deciduous leaves are oval to oblong, with smooth margins and a downy underside. The flowers, though not showy, are small, yellow-green, and appear high in the tree from April to June. The unripe fruit resembles a small cucumber and matures to a striking reddish-orange color. The tree can reach heights of 15-20m or more and has elliptic green leaves. It blooms in late spring with blue-green flower buds that turn into dark yellow flowers. The bark on the trunk is deeply grooved and dark brown. The leaves are initially pubescent and become glabrous. The flowers are sharp and open after the appearance of the leaves. The fruit is crimson-red and elongated. Magnolia acuminata blooms in April to June and fruits in September to October. This species is protected in Canada as an endangered species under the Canadian Species at Risk Act.