Magnolia
Magnolias are grown primarily for their brightly coloured spring flowers, often borne on bare branches ahead of the leaves.
Magnolia
A traditional Magnolia with large white scented tulip-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: White
Magnolia x soulangeana
Magnolia
Aphrodite is a vigorous Magnolia with intense magenta flowers which bloom over a long period.
- Flowering month: May
- Flower colour: Magenta
- Flower colour: Crimson
Magnolia
Magnolia
As the name suggests, this Magnolia features huge flowers, with many shades of pink.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - light
Magnolia
Magnolia
Black Tulip has deep ruby red flowers, the darkest of any Magnolia variety.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Magenta
- Flower colour: Crimson
Magnolia
Magnolia
One of the smaller Magnolias, featuring large pink flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink
Magnolia sprengeri
Magnolia
One of the best yellow-flowered Magnolias, Daphne flowers over a long period.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Yellow
Magnolia acuminata
Magnolia
A good choice for your first magnolia. Large fragrant pink flowers and a neat upright habit.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink
Magnolia x brooklynensis
Magnolia
Elizabeth is a small late-flowering Magnolia which displays yellow spring flowers on bare branches.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Yellow
Magnolia
MagnoliaBest seller
The flowers of this Magnolia are a soft sheen of pure white, with a dark pink base.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: White
Magnolia
Magnolia
A small semi-evergreen Magnolia with fragrant lilac pink flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - light
Magnolia laevifolia
Magnolia
Felix Jury is notable for its huge crimson purple flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
A modern hybrid Magnolia with lightly fragrant purple-pink tulip-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
Genie is a compact Magnolia, featuring large dark crimson flowers, with a subtle fragrance.
- Flowering month: May
- Flower colour: Crimson
Magnolia
Magnolia
Honey Tulip is named for its creamy honey-yellow tulip-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Cream
Magnolia
Magnolia
Iolanthe is one of the most popular pink-flowered Magnolias.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - light
Magnolia
MagnoliaBest seller
The flowers of Magnolia Joli Pompom are the purest sheen of icing sugar white.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: White
Magnolia
Magnolia
An early-season Magnolia with dark crimson pink flowers opening to paler pinks.
- Flowering month: March
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
An English Magnolia featuring large beautiful pink flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink
Magnolia
Magnolia
As the name suggests the light pink flowers of this Magnolia hybrid are attractively scented.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - light
Magnolia
Magnolia
A vigorous Magnolia featuring large white goblet-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: White
Magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia Shirazz features large crimson tulip-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: March
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
This upright hybrid Magnolia features dark pink tulip-shaped flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
Star Wars features very long-lasting dusky-pink flowers and an upright habit.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
A compact Magnolia with crimson / white scented flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
Tina Durio is a fast-growing Magnolia featuring bright white fragrant tulip-shaped flowers.
Magnolia
Magnolia
Watermelon is an attractive Magnolia featuring very large dark red semi-double flowers.
- Flowering month: April
- Flower colour: Magenta
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
Magnolia
Magnolia
Woodsman features dusky pink flowers with shades of yellow, green and cream.
- Flowering month: May
- Flower colour: Pink - light
Magnolia x brooklynensis
Magnolia
A medium-sized late-flowering Magnolia, one of the best yellow-flowered forms for the smaller garden.
- Flowering month: May
- Flower colour: Yellow
Magnolia
How to choose Magnolia
Magnolias are an ancient genus of flowering trees, grown primarily for their attractive flowers. The flowers are primitive, and the petals lack the protective sepals found in most flowering trees which evolved later. Instead they have tepals, which perform both functions - but this is the main reason why it is best to plant Magnolias in sheltered locations.
Compared to other flowering ornamental trees, Magnolias seem to have an unsually wide colour palette, with white, pink, yellow, purple, and red varieties available.
Many species are decidous but there are also semi-evergreen and full evergreen varieties.
Magnolias do best in well-drained soils and sheltered conditions, but they need plenty of water over the summer (use a mulch to help retain moisture). They are tolerant of clay and some varieties will also tolerate chalk, but they generally prefer neutral or slightly acidic conditions. Many are also tolerant of air pollution so are a good choice for city gardens.
Magnolias do not like to be transplanted, so plant the tree directly in its final position. They have quite shallow roots, so avoid planting anything else nearby.
Magnolias are mostly very cold-hardy, but paradoxically frost can easily spoil the appearance of the blossom, hence the recommendation to plant in a sheltered position.
You will sometimes see particular Magnolia varieties described as "precocious". In the case of Magnolias this term has a specific meaning - the flowers are borne in advance of the leaves. This is considered a desirable quality because the effect of the flowers is, arguably, heightened when displayed against bare branches.
Magnolias generally need little or no pruning. If pruning is necessary it should be carried out just after flowering is finished or in late summer. Pruning can be used to check the height of the tree - remove the thicker branches and prune back to the smaller newer flower-bearing newer shoots. You can also remove lower shoots to give a more tree-like appearance, although many Magnolias have a naturally shrub-like habit and will produce new shoots from low down on the main stem.
Magnolias don't usually produce nectar (they arose before insects evolved) so are not particularly helpful for bees, but many of them produce seeds which are attractive to wildlife.
Most of our Magnolias are grafted on to Magnolia kobus rootstocks - which are robust and hardy, and do not produce suckers.
Hybrid Magnolias are likely to flower within 1-2 years after planting. Older varieties may take 3-4 years, possibly as long as 5 years for species such as Magnolia sprengeri.