Did you remember to put the clocks forward last night!
As we ease into spring and thoughts turn to the outside garden one of the plants that is bound to attract our attentions are magnolias. Everyone recognises magnolias and their pink and white flowers are a feature of many gardens. Every flowering tree is worth attention but magnolias have the largest blooms of any hardy tree and have among the largest flowers of any plant in our gardens. They are simply breathtakingly beautiful.
As might be expected from a group of plants with 330 species from Asia and America and with hybrids created around the world, there is a lot of variation among them. Among the hardy kinds there is bound to be one that will look perfect in your garden.
There is so much variation that any generalisation is bound to be inaccurate so I will confine myself to the deciduous, spring-flowering kinds – after all, these are the most popular.
Where to plant
In general these grow best in fertile, moist soil. They have surface-roots and dislike cultivation around them. Once planted, mulch and underplant with spring bulbs and shade-tolerant ground cover. Colourful ajugas, brunnera, hostas and epimediums are all perfect. Most magnolias grow best in acid or neutral soil but the common kinds are generally tolerant of alkaline soils too, especially if you mix in compost at planting time and mulch them with compost. They do not grow well on very chalky soils and they are not tolerant of waterlogging.
Their habit varies too. Some are quite small and bushy with others are trees. The most common of all is Magnolia x soulangeana and there are various forms with flowers in shades of white, pink and crimson. It is upright at first but the branches arch outwards as they age. Like all magnolias, they can be pruned but they tend to produce ugly, upright shoots from where they are pruned. If you planted one in front of your lounge window and it is blocking the light it is best to remove the lower branches to ‘lift the crown’ rather than try to shorten all the stems to keep it smaller.
Most magnolias will grow and bloom best in full sun.
Having found the right spot and now you know your soil is suitable there is one other thing to consider. Magnolias are hardy but their flowers are easily damaged by frost. A late spring frost can convert a mass of glorious pink blossom into a bundle of brown overnight. So avoid exposed sites. Large trees nearby. that may offer some shade in summer and overhead protection from frost, are perfect but not essential.
Magnolia x soulangeana is so common that to most people it is the magnolia. It was first produced, in the West (the two parents grow wild in Asia) by Étienne Soulange-Bodin in France in 1820. It combines the large, goblet flowers of one parent with the habit of producing later flowers after the spring flush, from the other. Quite often it will produce quite a few flowers in summer. It is probably the best to buy if you want to try magnolias because it is among the easiest to grow and it is relatively inexpensive.
If you want something special, that is obviously a magnolia, try Black Tulip (‘Jurmag1’) a beautiful small tree bred in New Zealand. It is relatively compact and the large blooms are among the darkest of all.
If size is not everything, Magnolia stellata may be for you. These are bushy plants rather than trees and a plant can be only 1.5m high after ten years. The flowers are produced all over the plants and open for several weeks. If a frosty night damages the open flowers there are usually more buds to open. The flowers are small with many narrow petals. Although there are pink forms, the most popular have pure white flowers.
I think a better option is ‘Leonard Messel’ which is larger, though still a small tree, and has pretty pink flowers. I put my money where my mouth is and I planted it in my own garden, along with others including ‘Heaven Scent’ and ‘Daphne’ (below.)
Magnolias that flower later in spring are useful because they are less likely to be damaged by frost. It can be argued that if the flowers are produced after the leaves emerge they are less showy but I do not really agree. Because these late flowers are less likely to be damaged by frost they are good for my nerves! Asian magnolias have been hybridised with the American cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata) to produce magnolias that have yellow flowers and most of these flower a little later than more common magnolias. There are now lots of these and although the flowers are not ‘buttercup yellow’ they do have their charms. ‘Elizabeth’ was one of the first to become available and is a lovely tree with primrose yellow blooms. Because Magnolia acuminata is tolerant of lime in the soil, the yellow magnolias may have inherited that lime tolerance.
Many people consider ‘Daphne’ one of the best and I planted it in my own garden and I adore it.
Magnolias are rather special trees and their flowers are magnificent. They are not difficult to please and will soon become a feature of your garden. They are a wise investment and, with Easter coming up, a good alternative to chocolate for a treat. They also make a perfect, thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day.
There is a good selection of magnolias at Nags Hall this month along with other spring-flowering shrubs such as camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.