Mark Catesby and the Southern Magnolia

Mark Catesby (1683 - 1749)

Early American settlers came to the New World for a variety of reasons. Some sought wealth, others personal or religious freedoms, and still others simply were in it for the adventure - including Mark Catesby, America's first explorer-scientist. Already comfortably well-off from an inheritance when he left England to join his sister Elizabeth in Williamsburg in 1712, Catesby discovered that the colonies held a treasure trove of a different kind for those who were interested in the natural world.

During the years that followed, Catesby made several trips around the Southeastern colonies, as well as venturing to the West Indies to visit the Bahamas. His discoveries brought the flora and fauna of the New World to the attention of the Old World. His collections fascinated such scientific luminaries as Carl Linnaeus, who used his specimens to catalog many species new to science at the time, and included much of his writing in his Systema Naturae.

Catesby finished his travels by 1726, when he returned to England and began work on his magnum opus, The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, published in smalller volumes beginning in 1731 . His work documented species now lost, such as the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and Carolina Parakeet, as well as species so popular they are still beloved today. His book contained more than 200 hand-colored etchings, which Catesby himself learned how to produce, and he ultimately impoverished himself to complete it. His sacrifices created one of the most beautiful and important works of American natural history, with original copies avidly sought by collectors and fetching over $400,000. Learn more about Mark Catesby and his work here.

Southern Magnolia
One of Catesby most popular engravings is of the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Catesby was the first to describe this species, which quickly eclipsed the Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) in popularity back in England. The striking, richly-colored work is often considered among the finest in Catesby's Natural History.

Southern Magnolias are native to the Southeastern U.S., from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. They have spread further as people discovered the beauty of this ornamental tree. The large white blooms that give the tree its taxonomic name appear in late spring and sporadically throughout the year. They are sweetly-scented from close up, but not over-powering. The blooms contain "furry" centers, which will become the large fruit later in the year.

Magnolias are an ancient species, with fossilized specimens found dating back to 20 million years ago. A current theory is that the tree evolved to be pollinated by beetles, as it appeared before bees were on the scene. There are more than 200 species found around the world, native to North and South America as well as Asia. They have been sought by growers for home and public gardens for hundreds of years, with Southern Magnolia remaining one of the most popular ever since Mark Catesby's discovery.

MOSI Outside's Richard T. Bower's Historic Tree Grove is home to two special Southern Magnolia trees, each with its own unique history. Learn more about the Juliette Gordon Low Southern Magnolia and Andersonville Southern Magnolia and the gardens and artwork that complement them.