Saucer magnolia

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; shelter from strong winds and avoid frost pockets.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist, especially during the first two growing seasons. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells; avoid waterlogged ground.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Strongly alkaline or chalky soil can cause yellow leaves and poor growth.

Height

20-30 ft (6-9 m)

Spread

20-30 ft (6-9 m)

Flowers

Late winter to mid-spring, depending on climate; large white flowers flushed pink to purple, usually darker outside, opening before the leaves.

Foliage

Broad, oval green leaves, sometimes turning yellow or yellow-brown in autumn.

Growth

Moderate, usually slower as the tree matures.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

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

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

About 26 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 position carefully because established magnolias dislike transplanting.
• Water deeply during dry weather while the tree establishes; keep the soil moist rather than constantly wet.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Avoid digging or repeatedly cultivating beneath the canopy; the fleshy roots are shallow and easily damaged.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test shows a deficiency; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.

Pruning. Prune as little as possible, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches after flowering while cuts are still small. Avoid topping or hard renovation pruning, which spoils the shape and can produce vigorous upright shoots.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is workable; water thoroughly and mulch.

Early spring

Plant in colder climates once the ground is workable, before substantial new growth.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check soil moisture as buds open; feed only if needed.

Late spring

After flowering, remove damaged or rubbing branches if necessary.

Summer

Water deeply in prolonged dry weather and inspect twigs for scale insects.

Winter

Check that mulch remains clear of the trunk and that any young-tree ties are not rubbing or constricting the bark.

• Use as a specimen in a lawn or broad planting bed where its spreading crown can develop without repeated pruning.
• Place against a dark evergreen backdrop to make the pale spring flowers stand out.
• Underplant with snowdrops, hellebores and other shallow-rooted shade plants for a layered spring display.
• Use near a woodland edge, with the crown in good light and the roots shaded by low planting.

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

Plant it with: Snowdrops, Hellebores, Epimediums, Japanese painted ferns, Hostas and Azaleas.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for visiting insects, including beetles. The branching crown offers shelter and potential nesting sites for birds.

• Late frost browns open flowers: avoid low frost pockets and choose a sheltered position; damaged blooms need no treatment.
• Magnolia scale causes sticky honeydew, sooty mould and weakened shoots: inspect twigs, remove heavily infested small branches and use a locally approved horticultural oil at the appropriate stage.
• Yellow leaves with green veins can indicate iron deficiency in alkaline soil: test the soil, improve growing conditions and use chelated iron if recommended; strongly chalky sites are best avoided.
• Leaf scorch or dieback can follow drought, waterlogging or root disturbance: check drainage and soil moisture, mulch the root zone and avoid digging beneath the canopy.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is generally recognised as poisonous, though eating leaves, bark or seeds may cause digestive upset; it is not a food plant.

• Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

  Usually smaller, with star-shaped flowers made up of many narrow white or pale pink tepals rather than broad, cup-forming ones.

• Lily magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora)

  Usually a smaller shrub with narrower, upright, deep purple flowers that often open as the leaves emerge.

• Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

  Evergreen, with thick, glossy leaves and large white flowers mainly in summer rather than pink-and-white flowers on bare spring branches.

Magnolia honours French botanist Pierre Magnol, soulangeana honours French horticulturist Étienne Soulange-Bodin, who raised the hybrid, and 'saucer' describes the opened flowers.

Propagation. Named cultivars are usually propagated by grafting, budding or layering; semi-ripe cuttings can be difficult to root. Seed-grown plants vary and will not reliably match the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Magnolia soulangeana

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