Tree comparisons
| Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum |  Eternal Flame | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Beauty features very dark purple tulip-shaped flowers with white centres, appearing on bare branches. | One of the best forms of the Cappadocian Maple, featuring a range of leaf colours from spring to autumn. | Cercis Eternal Flame is named for its large red / orange leaves. | |
| remove | remove | remove |
Growing
| Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum | Cercis Eternal Flame | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening skill | Beginner | Beginner | Beginner |
| Awards | RHS AGM (current) | ||
| Attractive features | Attractive flowers | Attractive tree / plant Autumn foliage colour | Attractive foliage Autumn foliage colour Spring foliage colour Summer foliage colour |
| Growth habit | Upright-spreading / Vase | Upright-spreading / Vase | Spreading / Flat-topped |
| Height after 10 years | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft |
| Sunlight | Prefers full sun Some shade | Tolerates shade | Prefers full sun |
| Pruning | Prune after flowering | Light prune | Light prune Prune after flowering |
| Growth rate | Slow | Average | |
| Site conditions | Sheltered site Free-draining site |
Identification
| Magnolia Black Beauty | Maple Rubrum | Cercis Eternal Flame | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower colour | Purple | Pink - dark | |
| Flower form | Single flower (5-8 petals) | Single flower (5-8 petals) | |
| Flowering month | April | April | April |
| Leaf colour | Green | Green | Yellow |
| Leaf colour - autumn | Green | Yellow | Yellow |
| Leaf/Flower sequence | Flowers appear first | Flowers appear first | |
| Country of origin | United States | United States | |
| Annual cycle | Deciduous | Deciduous | Deciduous |