About
A sturdy evergreen shrub or tree of rounded habit, with glossy dark green leaves, a rich, rusty-brown beneath, and relatively small creamy-white, heavily scented flowers, in late summer and 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 typeShrubs, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 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
PruningPruning group 9 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained. See magnolia pruning
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer to early autumn. Grafting in winter, chip budding in summer or layering in early spring
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