Question
Is the magnolia bush also the magnolia tree, and should it be pruned to start looking more 'tree' like?

Answer
Nancy,

There are some cultivars of Magnolia that are classified as large shrubs since they can grow up to 20 or more feet tall. Regardless of the classification, you can still prune them into tree form, if that is the look that you want the plant to have. Pruning such as this can be done at any time.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen