Jane magnolia

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Choose a position sheltered from strong winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during the first two growing seasons. Established plants need deep watering during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably acidic to neutral. Avoid shallow chalky soil and sites that remain wet.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Flowers

Mid to late spring: lightly fragrant, upright reddish-purple flowers with white interiors, opening before or alongside the leaves. A few flowers may appear again in summer.

Foliage

Broad, oval green leaves, sometimes turning yellow or bronze in autumn before falling.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level, and choose the site carefully: established magnolias dislike being moved.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons; do not leave the roots standing in water.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone each spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Avoid digging or cultivating beneath the canopy because the fleshy roots are shallow and easily damaged.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.

Pruning. Prune only when needed, just after the main spring flowering, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. Keep cuts small and avoid hard pruning or cutting back the whole crown.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is workable in mild climates; in cold regions, wait until spring.

Early spring

Plant in cold regions once the ground is workable, and water thoroughly.

Spring

Refresh the organic mulch, keeping it away from the stems.

Spring flowering

Cover a small plant with horticultural fleece overnight if a hard frost threatens open flowers; remove it in the morning.

Late spring

After flowering, remove damaged or crossing branches if necessary.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells and check stems and leaf undersides for scale insects.

• Use as a specimen in a lawn or broad bed where its spring flowers can be seen from the house.
• Place at a woodland edge with ferns, hellebores and hostas beneath the outer canopy.
• Combine with azaleas and hydrangeas in a moist, acidic mixed border for successive flowering seasons.
• Use as a small multi-stemmed tree beside a patio, allowing enough space for its mature crown and shallow roots.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Japanese and Traditional.

Plant it with: Japanese azalea, Bigleaf hydrangea, Hosta, Lenten rose, Japanese forest grass and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: The flowers can provide pollen for beetles and other visiting insects. Branches offer shelter and possible nesting sites for small birds.

• Late frost can brown flowers and buds: choose a sheltered position away from frost pockets and cover small plants when frost threatens.
• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and black sooty mould: inspect twigs and treat susceptible crawler stages with a labelled horticultural oil, following local guidance.
• Leaf spots may develop in damp weather: collect fallen affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage and improve airflow; minor spotting rarely needs treatment.
• Yellow leaves with green veins can indicate iron chlorosis in alkaline soil: test the soil, use an appropriate chelated iron treatment for short-term relief and address unsuitable soil conditions.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is generally recognised as seriously poisonous, but it is not a food plant and chewing or swallowing plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana)

  Usually grows into a larger tree with broader, cup-shaped flowers and often blooms earlier. 'Jane' generally has narrower, more upright flowers and a smaller mature crown.

• Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

  Has star-shaped flowers with many narrow, strap-like petals, usually white or pale pink, rather than the upright purple-and-white flowers of 'Jane'.

The genus name Magnolia honours the French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Propagation. Propagate from softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer under controlled humidity; rooting can be difficult. Layering is another option. Seedlings will not reliably retain the characteristics of 'Jane'.

Accepted botanical name

Magnolia

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.