Many early spring visitors to the UT Arboretum are rewarded with the spectacular show staged by the magnolias. This collection contains over 90 specimens. The genus Magnolia itself contains over 80 species which are mainly concentrated in southeast Asia, southeastern United States, Central America, and Venezuela.

The show-stopper magnolias are members of the magnolia subgenus, Pleurochasma, which includes the deciduous magnolia species that flower precociously (before the leaves appear). These precociously flowering species include the white-blossomed star magnolias, Magnolia stellata and Magnolia kobus, the hybrid purple-blossomed saucer magnolia, Magnolia x soulangiana, and the Chinese species, Magnolia liliflora, with its tulip-shaped blossoms.

The flowers of many members of Pleurochasma are often damaged or destroyed by late frosts. Thus, one of the research purposes for establishing the UT Arboretum magnolia collection was the identification and breeding of late flowering, hardier forms of this subgenus.

The Magnolia Garden is located along the White Pine Trail, one of the four self-guided walking trails at the UT Arboretum.

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