About
Small evergreen tree about 8m in height, with oval, leathery, glossy dark green leaves to 20cm long, grey-green beneath. Upright, creamy-white flowers 7.5cm across with 9-12 tepals, are tinged deep rose or pink, and produced from late spring to early summer, may be followed by purplish fruits.
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 typeLoam, Sand, Chalk
Soil pHAcid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Shrubs
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageEvergreen
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, well-drained soil in part shade, or sun in humid conditions, best grown outdoors in mild frost-free locations only. Can be grown in a large greenhouse or conservatory in a container. See magnolia cultivation advice
PruningPruning group 9, or pruning group 13 if wall-trained Restrictive pruning will be needed if grown under glass
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn 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