Tree comparisons
 Summer Chocolate | Magnolia Watermelon | Birch Snow Queen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A popular form of the Silk Tree with burgundy foliage and scented cream powder puff blooms. | Watermelon is an attractive Magnolia featuring very large dark red semi-double flowers. | An attractive tree, and one of the best forms of the Himalayan birch, with a bright white stem. | |
| remove | remove | remove |
Growing
| Albizia tree Summer Chocolate | Magnolia Watermelon | Birch Snow Queen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening skill | Average | Beginner | Beginner |
| Awards | RHS AGM (current) | ||
| Attractive features | Attractive flowers Attractive foliage Autumn foliage colour Scented flowers | Attractive flowers | Attractive bark Autumn foliage colour |
| Growth habit | Spreading / Flat-topped | Upright-spreading / Vase | Upright-spreading / Vase |
| Height after 10 years | 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft |
| Sunlight | Prefers full sun | Prefers full sun | Prefers full sun Some shade |
| Pruning | Light prune | Light prune Prune after flowering | Do not prune |
| Growth rate | Slow | Average | |
| Site conditions | Sheltered site Free-draining site Occasional flooding | Sheltered site Free-draining site | Occasional flooding Occasional drought |
Identification
| Albizia tree Summer Chocolate | Magnolia Watermelon | Birch Snow Queen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower colour | Pink | Pink - dark Magenta | |
| Flower form | Semi-double flower (10-20 petals) | ||
| Flowering month | July August | April | |
| Leaf colour | Bronze | Green | Green |
| Leaf colour - autumn | Bronze / Purple | Yellow | |
| Leaf/Flower sequence | Flowers appear first | ||
| Bark | White | ||
| Country of origin | New Zealand | ||
| Annual cycle | Deciduous | Deciduous | Deciduous |