About
This large tree with a conical habit to about 10m in height, with glossy dark green leaves, felty and reddish-brown on the undersides. Very large, double, scented, open cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers have extra tepals and are produced from summer through to autumn Image credit: Milan havlis © www.havlis.cz.
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, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Shrubs
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageEvergreen
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds. Flowers may be damaged by late frosts. Will grow in moist alkaline soils. See magnolia cultivation for further advice
PruningPruning group 9 or Pruning group 13 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