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Recommended Magnolias

Tagged as: Recommended Magnolias for the Home Landscape

Magnolias are among the most beautiful and popular landscape plants. While their principal attraction is spectacular large flowers, magnolias also offer homeowners a variety of sizes, forms, and textures from smaller shrub-like plants to large specimen trees. Although there are a number of magnolias that have proven hardy in our area, only a handful of varieties are commonly planted.

This publication provides an extensive list of magnolias recommended for the Midwest on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems.

Magnolias for the Home Landscape

Wide range of tree sizes and forms are available
Spectacular large flowers in several colors
Unique and brightly colored fruits
Attractive gray bark
Drop their leaves in the fall (deciduous)

Uses in the Landscape

Frame a house when planted to the front and side of residence
Shade private areas such as patios or decks
Create an attractive background
Provide a pleasing view from a window
Serve as a focal point in the garden

Factors to Consider

To have the best success with growing magnolias

Select a planting site sheltered from strong winds
Plant on east or north side of your home to prevent early flowering that may be susceptible to spring frosts
Select later-blooming varieties to avoid frost damage to flowers
Plant in full sun to part shade
Plant in slightly acidic, well-drained, moist soil, rich in organic matter
Spring planting is recommended
Water newly planted trees during establishment and during prolonged periods of drought Mulch annually with well-composted mulch (wood chips, leaf mold, compost) to a depth of 3- 4 inches.
Watch for magnolia scale. Refer to the Arboretum’s Plant Information Leaflet entitled Scale Insects for information on identification and control.

Availability

If you have trouble locating a specific plant, contact The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic or The Sterling Morton Library for nursery catalog information.

Where to Find Magnolias at The Morton Arboretum:

Flowering Trees Collection
Joy Path
Magnolias & Relatives Collection (formerly the Magnoliidae)
Frost Hill

Additional Reading

The World of Magnolias, Dorothy Callaway, Timber Press Inc., Portland, Oregon, 1994 Magnolias, James Gardiner, The Globe Pequot Press, Chester, Connecticut, 1989 Magnolias, Neil G. Treseder, Faber & Faber, London, Boston, 1978

Recommended Magnolias for the Home Landscape

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height	Spread	Form	Flowering Period	Zone	Comments
Magnolia acuminata	Cucumbertree	60-70’	50-60’	Pyramidal	Mid-May	4-8	Large shade tree with a straight trunk; flowers not particularly showy; drought sensitive
Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata ‘Miss Honeybee’	Yellow Cucumbertree	20-30’	15-20’	Upright	Mid-May	5-8	Smaller than the species; yellow flowers appear before the leaves; fused clusters of red fruits
Magnolia ‘Ann’	Ann Magnolia	8-10’	8-10’	Upright, shrubby	Mid-April	4-8	Large hybrid shrub with an open habit; erect, tapered buds open to red- purple flowers
Magnolia ‘Betty’	Betty Magnolia	10-15’	8-12’	Upright, shrubby	Mid-April	4-8	Large hybrid shrub; new growth emerges copper- red; flowers are deep purple-red with white interior
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Hattie Carthan’	Hattie Carthan Magnolia	20-25’	20-25’	Rounded	Early May	5-8	A hybrid selection with an unusual flower color, a combination of pastel colors with green and lavender petals
Magnolia ‘Butterflies’	Butterfly Magnolia	18-20’	12-18’	Upright, pyramidal	Late May	5-7	Small tree; deep yellow flowers appear before the leaves
Magnolia denudata	Yulan Magnolia	30-40’	25-30’	Broad pyramidal	Late April	5-8	Mid-size tree with goblet- shaped, ivory-white, fragrant flowers; fused clusters of rose-red fruits
Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’	Elizabeth Magnolia	30-50’	20-35’	Upright, pyramidal	Mid-May	4-8	Vigorous large-sized tree; primrose yellow flowers; blooms at an early age
Magnolia ‘Goldfinch’	Goldfinch Magnolia	35-40’	30-40’	Upright, pyramidal	Early May	4-8	Mid-size tree; light yellow flowers appear before the leaves emerge
Magnolia ‘Golden Gift’	Golden Gift Magnolia	30-40’	30-40’	Pyramidal	Early May	4-8	Compact growth habit; numerous yellow flowers bloom over a long period
Magnolia ‘Gold Star’	Gold Star Magnolia	20-25’	15-20’	Broad pyramidal	Early May	4-8	Small, multi-stemmed tree; star-shaped, yellow flowers; new leaves emerge bronze color
Magnolia ‘Ivory Chalice’	Ivory Chalice Magnolia	18-20’	18-20’	Upright	Mid-May	4-8	Beautiful ivory flowers in a chalice-shape; clusters of rose-red fruits
Magnolia 'Jane'	Jane Magnolia	8-10’	8-10’	Upright, shrubby	Mid-May	4-8	Large hybrid shrub; cup-shaped flowers are reddish-purple outside and white inside
Magnolia kobus	Japanese Magnolia	30-40’	20-30’	Pyramidal	Early to mid-April	4-8	Mid-size tree; fragrant white flowers produced on mature plants
Magnoliax kewensis ‘Wada’s Memory’	Wada’s Memory Japanese Magnolia	25-30’	20-25’	Broad, pyramidal	Mid-April	5-8	Young leaves are reddish; fragrant drooping white flowers appear before leaves; butter-yellow fall color
Magnolia kobus var. borealis	Northern Japanese Magnolia	30-40’	20-30’	Pyramidal	Early to mid-April	4-7	Often multi-stemmed tree; large, white, fragrant flowers; may take up to 10 years to bloom
Magnolia x loebneri	Loebner’s Magnolia	25-30’	30-35’	Rounded	Early to mid-April	4-8	Hybrid magnolia with excellent hardiness and beautiful flower display
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Ballerina’	Ballerina Loebner’s Magnolia	15-20’	15-20’	Rounded	Early to mid-April	4-8	Small-size tree; numerous white flower petals are pale pink at the base
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’	Leonard Messel Loebner Magnolia	25-30’	30-35’	Rounded	Early to mid-April	4-8	Dark purple flower buds open with a white interior, beautiful as a cut flower with a wonderful fragrance
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’	Merrill Loebner Magnolia	25-30’	30-35’	Rounded	Early to mid-April	4-8	Fast growing; many petaled fragrant, white flowers; very hardy
Magnolia macrophylla	Big-leaved Magnolia	30-40’	30-50’	Rounded	June	5-8	Exceptionally large leaves have silvery gray undersides; creamy-white flowers; native to S.E. United States
Magnolia officinalis var. biloba	Magnolia	60-70’	35-50’	Pyramidal	May-June	5-9	Large tree; fragrant, white flowers with red stamens; large leaves
Magnolia ‘Pinkie’	Pinkie Magnolia	10-12’	10-12’	Rounded, Shrubby	Mid-April	4-8	Large hybrid shrub with beautiful soft pink flowers; globe-shaped habit
Magnolia x proctoriana	Proctor Magnolia	20-25’	15-20’	Broad, pyramidal	Mid-April	5-7	Scented leaves and twigs; compact habit; white flowers with a pink tinge at the base; hybrid between anise magnolia and star magnolia
Magnolia salicifolia	Anise Magnolia	30-40’	20-30’	Pyramidal	Mid-April	5-8	Slender branches lemon scented when scratched; narrow leaves; fragrant, white flowers before leaves; rose-pink seed cones; flowers susceptible to spring frosts
Magnolia sieboldii	Oyama Magnolia	10-15’	10-12’	Vase- shaped	Early June	5-8	Small tree or large shrub; white cup-shaped, nodding flowers with carmine-red stamens; best in partial shade with moist, fertile soil
Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Alexandrina’	Alexandrina Saucer Magnolia	15-20’	10-15’	Upright	Mid-April	5-9	Small multi-stemmed tree; cup-shaped, deep rose- purple flowers with white interior
Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Lennei’	Lenne Saucer Magnolia	15-20’	15-20’	Broad, pyramidal	Mid-to-late April	5-9	Goblet-shaped deep magenta purple flowers with white interior; dark green leaves
Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Lennei Alba’	White Lenne Saucer Magnolia	15-20’	15-20’	Broad, pyramidal	Late April	5-9	Pure white, globe-shaped flowers; ideal for small gardens
Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Rustica Rubra’	Rustica Red Saucer Magnolia	15-25’	15-20’	Broad, pyramidal	Later April to early May	5-9	Small-size tree with open habit; rose-red flowers
Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Verbanica	Verbanica Saucer Magnolia	20-25’	20-25’	Broad, pyramidal	Late April to early May	5-9	Flowers have rose colored petals paler toward the tips; white interior; one of the latest to bloom; dark green, leathery leaves
Magnolia stellata	Star Magnolia	15-25’	10-15’	Oval to rounded	Late March, early April	4-8	Small tree or multi- stemmed bushy shrub; one of the earliest to bloom; subject to frost damage; fragrant, white, star-like flowers
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’	Centennial Star Magnolia	15-20’	25-20’	Upright, pyramidal	Mid-April	4-8	Small-size tree; numerous, large white flowers with pink tinge
Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’	Pink Star Magnolia	15-20’	15-20’	Oval to rounded	Mid-April	4-8	Dense bushy habit; pink buds open to fragrant, light pink, star-like flowers
Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’	Royal Star Magnolia	12-20’	15-20’	Oval to rounded	Late April	4-8	Flowers later than species; star-shaped, fragrant, white flowers
Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay Magnolia	10-20’	10-20’	Upright	Late June	5-9	Multi-stemmed, open habit; dark green, lustrous leaves with silvery green underside; often semi- evergreen; creamy white, lemon-scented flowers; requires moist, protected sites

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