About

A tough, compact, free-branching evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy intense green, wavy-edged leathery, oblong-elliptic leaves which are a rich rusty-brown on the undersides Plentiful, highly aromatic, large, cup-shaped creamy-white flowers are produced from summer to autumn.

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 typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeTrees
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationGrow in moist, well-drained preferably neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade. Tolerates dry, alkaline soil. Further magnolia cultivation advice
PruningPruning group 9, Pruning group 13 in summer if wall-trained
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings from late spring to early summer or semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn
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