About
This rounded, bushy evergreen shrub 3-4m tall, with downy, yellowish-brown stems and shiny, oval dark green leaves. The cup-shaped, banana-scented flowers are greenish-yellow to ivory white, with a fine dark red margin to the petals, and appear in late spring and early summer.
About the genus
Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants
Native toE China
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationNot frost hardy, so will need to be grown under glass in almost all parts of the country. Use a peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added bark, grow in full light with shade from hot sun and moderate to low humidity. See further magnolia cultivation advice
PruningPruning Group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in autumn, softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in mid-or late summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot