Growing the Victoria Southern Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Victoria Southern Magnolia is an upright evergreen tree with a good growth-rate, reaching 15 to 18 feet within 10 years, with a spread of about 12 feet. In time it will top 50 feet by 30 feet wide, but in cooler areas it tends to remain smaller. Allow plenty of room, especially for that broad spread, when planting, and place at least 15 feet away from your house, property lines, roads and other potential obstructions. Don’t plant it beneath power lines either. The smooth bark is dark gray-brown, developing a texture like an elephant’s skin. Unless you prune it up you won’t see much of that bark though, because the broad spread of the lower branches tends to hide it. This variety has an unusually dense structure and strong branches, making it very resistant to heavy snow loads, and ideal for areas where winter snow is regular, without severe low temperatures. When grown in warmer areas it generally develops a broader, more open structure.

The leaves are unique and spectacular, big leathery ovals, with a deep-green glossy upper surface. Their smooth, lustrous look and feel really is a joy in any garden, and the underside is covered in a dense, golden-brown coating that only adds to the beauty. They are 6 to 10 inches long, and 3 to 5 inches wide, smooth edged, ending suddenly in a short point. Although deciduous, leaves are dropped in both fall and spring. The flowers appear through summer, over many weeks, coming earlier or later depending on where the tree is grown. This variety is a reliable bloomer even in zone 7 and in areas with cooler summers, but it also blooms well of course in warmer zones too. The flowers are enormous and spectacularly beautiful, up to 12 inches across, with 8 to 12 broad, flat petals of creamy-white surrounding a raised center. They have a rich summer fragrance a little like a lemony gardenia scent, perhaps. Flowers develop into curious seed pods a little like pine cones, that open in fall and winter to surprise us with large, bright-red seeds that remain attached by a silken thread after their release, before falling to the ground.

Using the Victoria Southern Magnolia in Your Garden

This is a large specimen tree for a good-sized garden, planted alone or as an avenue or screen. It can be used on a lawn or to fill a corner of your property. It also grows well trained up against a south-facing wall, something that is often done in climates with cooler summers. Simply tie back the branches as they grow – it makes a wonderful wall tree and will bloom well.

Hardiness

Hardy from zone 7 to zone 9, this is perhaps the best variety of southern magnolia to grow in cooler zones, especially in areas with cool, moist summers. It is ideal for northern states, especially in the northeast – but it will also grow well in its natural home – the southeast, and in areas like southern California as well.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun will give you the best results with the Victoria Southern Magnolia, but short periods of shade through the day are tolerated. Too much shade and it will become weak and open, and rarely flower. It grows best in deep, rich, well-drained soil, but this is an adaptable plant, growing in most soils, except for very alkaline ones, and once established it is remarkably drought resistant.

Maintenance and Pruning

This spectacular tree is generally free of pest and disease problems, and very long-lived. It is deer resistant and also resistant to salt-spray, so it thrives near the ocean. Once established it needs virtually no attention, and rarely if ever needs trimming.

History and Origin of the Victoria Southern Magnolia

The southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, grows naturally from southern Virginia into central Florida, and west into eastern parts of Texas. It generally grows in moist areas, near swamps and rivers, but it doesn’t grow where it can be flooded, not liking saturated soils. It also grows on coastal sand dunes, but only as a shrub. Trees are very long-lived, and can grow very large. The largest, growing in Mississippi, is over 120 feet tall. It was among the early trees taken back to Europe by early settlers, and Mark Catesby, an English plant collector, brought it to England in 1726. There has always been interest in finding varieties that will grow well in cooler areas, and the variety ‘Victoria’ seems to have been found around 1930 growing in the town of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We don’t know more than that, and even that is disputed, with some experts claiming it was around earlier, in the 1920s, with no recorded origin.

Buying the Victoria Southern Magnolia at the Tree Center

This superb tree won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from England’s Royal Horticultural Society in 2002 – a tribute to how well it grows in areas with cooler summers. It is always in demand, but not many trees are produced by nurseries, so supplies are always tight. We have some lovely trees available, but order yours now, because they won’t stay in stock for long.

Growing the Saucer Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Saucer Magnolia is a deciduous tree renowned for its spring blooms. Young trees grow at a moderate pace, adding 12 to 24 inches of new growth, then slowing down, maturing into a small tree of grace and charm, usually a little more than 20 feet tall, with a rounded, irregular crown with a 20 foot spread. It is often multi-stem, or it can be trained to a single trunk. Young stems are smooth and light gray, becoming darker and rougher with age, and the branches develop attractive twisted forms that are striking in winter, and when it is in bloom. The leaves are elegant ovals, between 3 and 6 inches long, tapering to a broad point. They are mid-green, and semi-mat, with a soft, downy underside. In fall they turn golden yellow and rusty orange.

The large flowers are carried on the bare branches in late winter and early spring. In very warm zones that can be February, but March or April are more normal. New leaves follow quickly, and often the last flowers are still on the tree in May, among the new leaves. Blooms are upright, carried singly or in clusters, and blooming is often profuse, even from an early age. At first the blooms are bell-shaped, with long petals tapering to a pointed tip. As they develop they curl open, creating a broad, bowl-shaped bloom typically 4 to 6 inches across, but sometimes as much as 10 inches across. The outside of the 9 or 10 petals (technically called ‘tepals’) are dark purple-pink, deepest at the base and shading towards the tip, with fine lines following the veins upwards. The three outermost petals are noticeably smaller than the others. The inside of the bloom is pure white, surrounding a central column of light-yellow stamens. The seed pods that sometimes develop are about 3 inches long, like fat, knobby fingers. They are green, turning brown and then opening to reveal bright-red seeds.

Using the Saucer Magnolia in Your Garden

The Saucer Magnolia is a wonderful lawn specimen, or plant it in natural settings among deciduous trees, such as along the edge of a woodland, or in clearings. It is a perfect choice for a larger Asian-themed garden, or for growing around your home, perhaps close to a tall blank wall. Consider its final size carefully when choosing a location, as transplanting an established tree is often not successful. Plant near a pond or lake, and allow 10 feet minimum distance from walls, fences, property lines and other potential obstructions.

Hardiness

The Saucer Magnolia is hardy from zone 5 to zone 8, and in zone 9 where summers are not too hot and humid, such as along the west coast. For zone 4, check out the Star Magnolia.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun in cooler zones, or afternoon shade in warmer ones, suits the Saucer Magnolia perfectly. It prefers richer, acidic or neutral soils, but with good preparation it can be grown in any garden. The ideal soil is moist but well-drained, and avoid wet places. If planting near a lake, build up a mound if necessary, so that you have 18 inches of soil above the water table – the water will be appreciated, but it will find its own way to it. Established plants will tolerate some summer drought, but regular watering is preferred.

Maintenance and Pruning

Once you have a good location and good soil, the Saucer Magnolia will take care of itself. Pests or diseases normally don’t occur. Some mulch will be appreciated, and perhaps some tree fertilizer on poorer soils, but pruning is not recommended, as trees often don’t recover well, and the natural form is the best.

History and Origin of the Saucer Magnolia

The Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia x soulangeana, is a hybrid tree developed in the early 19th century from two species native to China. The breeder took pollen from the tulip magnolia, Magnolia liliifolia, and used it to pollinate the Yulan magnolia, Magnolia denudata. This was done by Étienne Soulange-Bodin, a retired cavalry officer from Napoleon’ defeated army, at his Château de Fromont, outside Paris. The pollination was in 1820, and by 1826 the first seedling was blooming. The various seedlings were distributed around, some of them being given particular names. The plants we are offering probably come from a seedling that found its way to the Netherlands, and became the standard for the Dutch horticultural industry, before being brought to America.

Buying the Saucer Magnolia at the Tree Center

The Saucer Magnolia is a garden classic that no garden should be without, even if you also grow other hybrids and magnolias. It was the first, and still among the best of the many magnolias available, and it’s easy to grow and always admired by everyone. Order now, as this historic form is rarely still available – it may not be back again.

Growing the Genie Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Genie Magnolia is a small deciduous tree that grows, when young, 18 to even 24 inches a year, slowing down a little to give you a plant 12 feet tall within 10 years. It has a pyramidal shape, with irregular levels of somewhat horizontal branches. We think 15 feet is probably about as tall as it will go, filling out with denser branching rather than adding height, and staying perhaps 6 feet wide. It has attractive smooth, gray bark when young, becoming darker and furrowed with age. The leaves develop as the first flush of flowers fade, and the new leaves are a bright, light green, darkening to a richer mid-green through summer and then turning yellow in fall. They are rounded ovals, about 5 inches long and 4 inches across, with a semi-mat surface caused by a soft grayish coating on the leaves, which mutes the green tones in a very attractive way.

Flower buds form in fall and pass through winter, opening early, as soon as warmer weather begins. This could be February in zone 9, March in most areas and late April in zone 4. The flowers open while the stems are bare, making a wonderful display. They are 6 to 8 inches across, upright and tulip-shaped when new, opening into flared cups as they develop over the 10 days of their life. Each flower has between 6 and 12 petals, broad, pointed ovals, colored rich deep purple, with a very thin white line along the edge. It is hard to describe how beautiful this bloom is – just check out the photographs and you will see. In all but the coldest zones you can expect a second blooming in August – with the flowers opening among the leaves – a real bonus that is another magnolia breakthrough, as previously it was only seen on a few rarer species not normally grown in gardens. Seed pods are usually only produced in any quantity on hand-pollinated plants.

Using the Genie Magnolia in Your Garden

A tree like this should be given pride of place, where it can be seen and enjoyed in March – perhaps outside a window of your home? Plant it at the back of shrub beds, among evergreens, or in wooded parts of your garden – it’s at home everywhere, and in all garden styles, especially Asian and Japanese-style gardens. It is also a plant that will thrive in a container for years, allowing you to move it around to max-out your enjoyment of it. Take your time choosing a planting spot, as magnolias don’t like being transplanted, if you discover you made a mistake in a few years.

Hardiness

The GenieMagnolia has proven to be hardy in zone 4, and it thrives through most zones, into zone 8 and also into zone 9 in the northwest, and wherever summers are not too hot and humid. Plants in containers can be left outside all winter from zone 6.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

You can plant your Genie Magnolia in full sun or, especially in warmer zones, in partial shade – perhaps some tree shade in the afternoon would be idea. It also grows in the dappled shade of tall deciduous trees, but not underneath evergreens. The ideal soil is deep, rich in organic matter, acidic or neutral, and moist but well-drained. If you prepare your soil well, digging it and adding plenty of compost or rotted leaves, it will grow happily in all soils that aren’t too dry. Established plants have some drought resistance once well-established, but grow best if not allowed to dry out too much.

Maintenance and Pruning

If you provide good growing conditions, you should have no problems with the Genie Magnolia. It is unlikely to suffer from pests or diseases. Mulch every year or two in spring with some rich organic material, and that’s it. We don’t recommend any pruning – it can permanently damage magnolias, and it is best to let this tree develop its natural beauty by itself.

History and Origin of the Genie Magnolia

The different deciduous magnolia species have been interbred and developed by many different growers over the years. The hybrid plant called Genie is the work of Vance Hooper, who owns Magnolia Grove Nursery in Waitara, New Zealand. He began by crossing a Chinese saucer magnolia, Magnolia x soulangeana `Sweet Simplicity` with a tulip magnolia, Magnolia liliiflora `Nigra`. The saucer magnolia is itself a hybrid between M. liliifolia and the Yulan magnolia, M. denudata. In 1998 he took pollen from another magnolia variety called ‘Sweet Valentine’ and used it on one of the seedlings of his earlier cross. ‘Sweet Valentine’ is itself a cross between two other M. x soulangeana varieties – confused yet? – so you can see what a complex hybrid this is. Basically, though, it is a cross between the saucer magnolia and the tulip magnolia, with a bit of Yulan magnolia thrown into the mix. In 2010 he was granted a patent on his plant, and it is also protected under European Plant Breeder Rights.

Buying the Genie Magnolia at the Tree Center

We are simply thrilled to have sourced some beautiful young plants of this highly-prized new variety. There are many different deciduous magnolias to choose from, but sadly every garden eventually has limited space. Choose the Genie Magnolia to enjoy the best, and take up only a little space – the perfect combination. We know how quickly this top-quality plant will sell out, so don’t hesitate – order now.

Growing the Moonglow® Sweetbay Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia is a large multi-stem tree, growing to 35 feet tall and spreading 20 to 25 feet wide within 20 years of planting. It typically has about 5 main trunks, with branches low down, and forms a dense, upright tree of considerable beauty. The smooth bark is an attractive soft-gray, complementing the rich green of the foliage. The leaves are smooth, glossy and oval, about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide. They have a leathery texture, and the upper surface is rich, dark green, while the underside is covered with soft, silvery hairs. This tree is evergreen throughout zone 5, and loses some leaves in zone 4, but these are quickly replaced in spring.

In May the first blooms appear, prominent on the ends of the branches. They are open and cup-shaped, 6 inches across, with a large central cluster of stamens and the pistil. The petals are thick, with a rich texture, and a creamy-white color – the ‘moonglow’ of this plant’s name. They release a powerful fragrance, like vanilla, which spreads across the garden for hundreds of feet, drifting through open doors and windows into your home as well. It truly is one of the delights of early summer. Each blossom lasts a full week, and since more are produced in succession it is early July before the last blooms are over. As a final piece of seasonal interest, by fall the spent blossoms have turned into fascinating seed pods, like pine cones, which change from green to brown and then split open to show a flash of large, bright red seeds.

Using the Moonglow® Sweetbay Magnolia in Your Garden

For evergreen lawn trees, it is difficult to beat such a beautiful tree as this one. Plant it on a large lawn for shade and to be admired. Grow it by a garden entrance, or along a boundary fence. Planted near your home you can enjoy its perfume without even stepping outdoors. Plant it in open wooded areas, or edging forest. Since it enjoys wet soil it is perfect beside a stream, lake, river or pond, and since it is a native plant it is perfect for natural gardens and wild settings. It would also make a spectacular screening tree.

Hardiness

The Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia is very hardy, and it stays completely evergreen in zone 5, tolerating rapid changes in temperature and arctic fronts. It will grow well in zone 4 too, although there it will probably lose a significant number of leaves during winter. Don’t worry – those bare branches will soon produce fresh green leaves with the first warmth of spring. Further south it is always evergreen, and this tree thrives in the heat and humidity of the south, even throughout Florida.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is perfect for the Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia, but it also grows well in partial shade, fitting in among larger deciduous trees. It grows in almost all garden soils, thriving in moist, slightly acidic ground, but not particularly fussy at all. Although it has some drought resistance when well-established, it prefers moist soil, and enjoys wet conditions, making it perfect for low-lying places and beside water.

Maintenance and Pruning

After a little pruning when young to give your tree a good branch structure, this tree needs no particular attention at all. Plant it where it has enough room to fully develop, as you don’t want to be trimming a great tree like this. It normally has no particular pests or diseases.

History and Origin of the Moonglow® Sweetbay Magnolia

Although greeted with great enthusiasm when it first arrived in England in 1678, the sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, was soon eclipsed there by the southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, with its larger leaves and flowers. Wild trees can be found in damp woodland all the way from Long Island, New York down the east coast into Florida, and in the Deep South and around the Gulf of Mexico.

Earl Cully had a tree nursery in Morgan County, Illinois. When young he had been closely guided by horticulture professor J.C. McDaniel of the University of Illinois to appreciate trees, and magnolias were always a passion of McDaniel. In 1975 Cully was examining a row of seedling sweetbay magnolias, and one stood out. He spent the next 20 years evaluating it, and through his contacts growing examples in many different climate zones. After this thorough screening he was granted a patent on his tree in 2001, with the name ‘Jim Wilson’, in honor of the host of the PBS gardening program, ‘Victory Garden’. This tree has always been sold with the trademark name of Moonglow®.

Buying the Moonglow® Sweetbay Magnolia at The Tree Center

The Moonglow Sweetbay Magnolia is an outstanding choice for colder zones, and just as great in warmer ones too. This widely-praised tree is always in high demand, and we know our stock will soon be gone. Order now and enjoy one of America’s best flowering trees.

Growing the Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia grows into an upright tree, with a short trunk and branching almost to the ground. It will reach 20 to 25 feet tall, and probably taller in warm zones, with a crown that will be around 15 feet across. It has one or several trunks, covered in smooth, soft-gray bark. The leaves are about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, with a smooth, glossy surface. The sweetbay magnolia normally keeps its leaves through winter in zones 7 to 10 and loses them partially or completely in zones 5 and 6. Not this variety though, which keeps its leaves through zone 6, zone 5, and even in zone 4. Only when the thermometer plunges to a chilly minus 35 do they finally drop, and even then, the buds remain alive.

Starting in May you will see the beautiful flowers opening at the ends of the branches. These are creamy-white, with broad, spreading petals of substantial texture. From them flows a rich, vanilla-like perfume, which spread across the garden for hundreds of feet, even drifting through open windows. Each bloom lasts a week, but more and more keep opening, and flowering continues into July. By fall there is a further surprise, when the flowers have turned into curious seed pods like pine cones. First green and then brown, these suddenly open to show big brilliant-red seeds, which drop to the ground on a silken thread.

Using the Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia in Your Garden

This beautiful tree makes a substantial specimen on a lawn. It has an almost rectangular outline, creating a wonderful sight. It is beautiful grown that way, or at the back of large shrub beds. Plant one near your home to enjoy the perfume, but don’t plant closer than 10 feet from walls, or blocking windows. This tree also thrives in the partial shade of wooded areas, or beneath large deciduous trees. It enjoys growing in wet soil, so plant it in low-lying areas and beside streams, rivers and lakes. Because it is a form of a native tree it is also ideal for natural and wild-flower gardens.

Hardiness

Much more cold resistant than the southern magnolia, the Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia is the most cold-resistant variety and most evergreen of all the varieties of Sweetbay Magnolia. It is fully evergreen and hardy even in zone 4, yet it grows well all the way into Florida in zone 10. It may even grow and bloom, although it will shed its leaves in winter, in warmer parts of zone 3.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia grows well in full sun, and it also grows well in partial shade, such as around deciduous trees and beside wooded areas. It grows well in ordinary garden soils, and it is especially useful in places where the soil is often wet or even flooded, such as in low-lying ground, along rivers and beside lakes. Once well-established it has some resistance to ordinary drought conditions too.

Maintenance and Pruning

This tree needs no particular care of attention. Water regularly in the first few seasons, and perhaps do a little formative pruning, but after that no special care is needed. Pests and diseases are rare on this tough native plant.

History and Origin of the Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia

The Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, was the first American magnolia to be introduced into Europe, in 1678, where it created a sensation. It grows wild from Long Island, New York all the way south through the coastal states into Florida, and around much of the Gulf of Mexico throughout the Deep South. Its beauty has always been a little eclipsed by the southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, but for gardeners in colder areas it is a spectacular alternative to that tree, and a plant that deserves a lot more attention. Coles Nursery, in Painesville, Ohio, was a long-established grower of trees and shrubs. It was there that Ned Rader selected a unique tree from among a batch of seedlings, noticing its hardiness and how it kept its leaves while the others dropped theirs. He named his plant ‘Northern Belle’, and it remains today the best choice of sweetbay magnolia for cold zones.

Buying the Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia at The Tree Center

The Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia is a hard tree to track down, and the demand always exceeds the supply. There are many northern gardeners who ache to see those scented blossoms in their summer gardens, so our limited supply will soon be sold out. Order yours now, you will be so pleased you did.

Growing the Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia is an upright tree, with a low trunk, forming a broad crown 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, in time. It has a solid, substantial appearance and makes a bold and beautiful specimen tree, so always give it enough room for its full development. It may have one or several major trunks, with a smooth, gray bark that is always attractive. If you cut a slice of bark from a mature tree you will notice a spicy scent, like the bay laurel berry, which is where the name ‘sweetbay’ comes from.

The leaves are large ovals, with smooth margins and a pointed tip. They are up to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, with a glossy surface and a mid-green coloring. This tree is substantially more evergreen and cold-hardy than many other forms of this type of magnolia, and it only loses a significant quantity of leaves in the coldest zones.

The flowers first appear in May, each one lasting a week, but new blooms continue to open until the end of August, a full four months of blooms. They are creamy white, opening to be 6 inches across, and the petals are thick and smooth, with rich substance. The blossoms are highly visible, forming at the ends of the branches, and they give off a rich scent of vanilla, which spreads out across the garden, perfuming your yard and even drifting through windows – a true delight of summer you will come to eagerly anticipate each year. These blooms also attract butterflies and other pollinating insects. After the blossoms a curious seed pod develops, resembling a pine cone, and in winter these open, revealing a surprise – a cluster of large, bright red seeds.

Using the Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia in Your Garden

This tree is a beautiful specimen to plant on a lawn, in a spot where its perfume can be appreciated. Plant it near your home, or a terrace, but allow enough room for its mature size. It can be planted at the back of large beds, and at the edges of woodlands in semi-natural settings too. It can also be planted in a row to make a grand and elegant screen. Because it grows well in wet ground it is ideal for low-lying spots, or by ponds, lakes and streams.

Hardiness

This tree is hardier than the evergreen magnolia, and it grows well all the way from zone 5 to the tip of Florida in zone 10. In zones 7 to 10 this tree is evergreen, keeping its leaves through winter, and only shedding them after new spring growth has matured. In zones 5, and sometimes in zone 6, it may lose some leaves, or even all of them, in harsh weather. The branches are hardy, and your tree will soon green up again in spring, so don’t start removing bare branches, thinking they are dead.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun or partial shade, such as tree shadow, are perfect conditions for the Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia. It grows well in all damper soils, including areas that regularly flood, but it will also grow well in ordinary garden conditions, and well-established trees have some drought tolerance.

Maintenance and Pruning

Very little maintenance is needed for this tree. Some formative pruning in its early years will help develop a good crown, but it will grow well perfectly naturally, and it is very low maintenance. Pests or diseases are normally never problems.

History and Origin of the Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia

The Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, was the first American magnolia to be introduced into Europe, in 1678. It flowered first in the garden of the Bishop of London, Henry Compton. It caused a sensation, and it was only when the southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, arrived that it began to be more ignored. It is one of those quirks of gardening that this tree has not been more widely grown, because it really is a beautiful plant, and perfect for colder areas where the southern magnolia will not grow.

Joseph C. McDaniel was a professor of Horticulture at the University of Illinois, in Urbana. He was an important breeder and introducer of ornamental and edible plants, ranging from apples and pecans to hollies and magnolias. He was widely honored for his contributions to gardening, and magnolias were his specialty, and of great importance to him. Don Shadow owns a wholesale nursery called Shadow Nurseries, in Tennessee. He is a renowned plantsman, introducing new plants from around the world, and an encyclopedic authority on plants. Some years back J.C. McDaniel gave Don a large batch of seeds of the sweetbay magnolia. Don grew them, and after testing found one that stayed green in cold conditions when others dropped their leaves. He named it ‘Green Shadow’, and it went on to be one of the most outstanding varieties of the sweetbay magnolia.

Buying the Green Shadow Sweetbay Magnolia at The Tree Center

We know you will love this tree – the perfect answer for lovers of summer magnolias who live in cooler zones, and for magnolia lovers everywhere. We have only a limited supply of this rare plant, so order now, as they will be gone very soon.

Growing the Stellar Ruby Magnolia

Size and Appearance

The Stellar Ruby Magnolia is an upright evergreen shrub with a dense habit, growing rapidly to 12 feet within 10 years, at which time it will be just 5 feet wide. Over time it will probably approach 18 feet in height. The leaves are leathery and oval, resembling perhaps the leaves of its relative the southern magnolia, but smaller, between 4 and 6 inches long, and about 3 inches wide. Their rich, glossy surface and dark green color makes this plant an excellent foliage evergreen, even when not blooming.

While the old banana bush took years to flower, the Stellar Ruby Magnolia begins to bloom even when it is young and small, so you won’t be waiting long to admire its beautiful blooms. These are carried in clusters of 3 to 5, sprouting from between the leaves on the upper parts of the branches. Each bloom is about 2½ inches across, star-shaped, with 6 broad petals. They resemble the blooms of the deciduous magnolias, and the petals are colored a rich ruby red, with many stamens and a yellow center like a miniature pineapple. Altogether a very charming bloom. Flowering is very dense in spring, and continues through summer and into fall, so that there are almost always blooms on this attractive plant. Each bloom lasts 3 to 5 days, and since the flowers in a cluster bloom one after the other, each cluster could last up to 3 weeks. The powerful scent of the blooms is fruity, resembling both bananas and pears, and certainly adds a unique element to growing this plant.

Using the Stellar Ruby Magnolia in Your Garden

With its dense, upright habit the Stellar Ruby Magnolia is incredibly useful and versatile in your garden. Plant it between windows as a foundation evergreen around your home. Plant a specimen on a lawn. Grow it at the back of your shrub borders, as an attractive backdrop. Plant it at the edges of a wooded area or along a pathway. Use it for a fast-growing screen by planting at 3 or 4-foot intervals in a row. It can be left to grow naturally or trimmed once a year to keep it neat and dense.

Hardiness

The Stellar Ruby Magnolia is more cold-hardy than older forms of this plant, and it will take brief dips to minus 5 degrees (into zone 6) and grow well in zones 7, 8 and 9. In colder parts of zone 7 it should be planted in a sheltered location, perhaps against the wall of your home.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Stellar Ruby Magnolia can be grown in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to relatively deep partial shade. In shade it may flower less and be more open in its growth, but it will still thrive. This plant grows best in moist but well-drained soils and is not so happy in very wet or very dry soil. The soil should be rich, and either acidic or alkaline. Add plenty of organic material when planting, and use more as mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk and foliage.

Maintenance and Pruning

No special maintenance is needed for your Stellar Ruby Magnolia. If you want to trim it, do this after the first flush of spring blooms, so that it has a full season to grow and bloom well the next year. This tough plant is trouble free, with no particular pest or disease problems, and it is deer resistant too. It is also salt tolerant and once established it is not troubled by periods of drought, although it will grow best with a steady supply of moisture.

History and Origin of the Stellar Ruby Magnolia

The banana bush, Magnolia figo, is native to China, and it has been long used as a background evergreen in southern gardens. It was originally thought to be a type of tulip tree (Liriodendron) and then it was placed in a group called Michelia. Recent DNA analysis has confirmed that it is in fact a type of Magnolia.

Thomas P. McCracken owns McCracken’s Nursery in Zebulon, North Carolina, and he is a keen plant lover and breeder of the unusual. In 2004 he crossed together two distinct varieties of this plant, Magnolia figo var. crassipes and Magnolia figo var. skinneriana. By 2010 he had a batch of seedlings in bloom, and one stood out, for its many larger, richly-colored flowers, fast-growth and dense, pyramidal habit. Tests later showed it was also more cold-resistant than other varieties of this plant. By 2014 he was ready to start propagating it, so he named it ‘Stellar Ruby’ and received a patent for it in 2018. This new plant is turning the heads of all the nurserymen and gardeners who see it, and it is sure to become a classic.

Buying the Stellar Ruby Magnolia at The Tree Center

We love being able to offer new and exciting plants like the Stellar Rub Magnolia, and you will be amazed when you see it in bloom in your own garden. Easy to grow, fast and reliable, this trouble-free shrub is sure to please everyone. Orders are already flooding in, so order your specimens now, while we still have stock available.

If you live in areas where this is a risk, choose a magnolia with the name of a girl, like Susan Magnolia. Why? Because these trees were bred carefully in the 1950s at the National Arboretum Washington, to have flower buds that come out of dormancy about 2 weeks later than is common. That slips them through the critical late-frost weeks and ensures they flower virtually every year, without fail. Why wouldn’t we make such a sensible choice, given how beautiful these trees are?

Growing Susan Magnolia Trees

The Susan Magnolia is a small spreading tree with an elegant crown of slightly twisted, picturesque branches, covered in smooth, soft-gray bark. It grows between 8 and 12 feet tall, and a similar width, with one or two major trunks and a rounded upper crown. At that size, it is perfect for a specimen on a small lawn, or in beds among large shrubs. Plant it on the margins of a wooded area, or between windows around your home. It can even be grown for many years in a very large planter box or tub. This beautiful tree deserves a special place, and choose carefully, allowing enough room for its full development, because once planted and established it is hard to move, and its first spot should be its final one.

The leaves of the Susan Magnolia are mid-green in color, and smooth ovals to 6 inches long, with a soft texture. In fall they turn bronzy yellow, and the tree in winter is attractive, with the large, furry-brown flower buds sitting along the bare branches, tantalizing us with their promise of beauty to come. In early spring those buds begin to swell, shedding their furry covers and opening into upright goblets of six narrow, slightly twisted petals. The outside of the petals, which shows when they are young, is a deep, rich purple-red, and as the flowers mature they spread wider, revealing the paler pink-purple tones within. A tree in full bloom is a true glory of spring, and not easily forgotten. The memory lingers through summer and fall, returning in winter as we wait for them to come again. When not blooming the tree is an attractive green addition to your garden, and well worth its place.

The Susan Magnolia will grow well in full sun, or in partial shade, such as associated with larger deciduous trees. It thrives in deep, moist and well-drained soil, and although once established it will easily survive normal summer dry periods, it is not drought resistant, and grows best if mulched in spring and watered deeply at regular intervals. Protect from strong winds, and don’t be tempted to plant it against a south-facing wall, as this may cause premature flower development, which can then lead to frost damage. This tree almost never suffers from pests or diseases, and in a suitable location, it is easy to grow. In alkaline soils, the leaves may show yellowing in summer, but this rarely has an adverse effect on its health, and it can be corrected by applying chelated iron in early spring. Pruning is not needed, unless you need to remove some of the lowest branches when young to develop a higher crown, for clearance. The more this tree matures, the more beautiful it becomes, so sit back and enjoy it.

History and Origins of Susan Magnolia Trees

The Susan Magnolia was developed in the 1950s by William F. Kosar and Dr. Francis de Vos, two plant scientists at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. To develop that important later opening, and for plants with strong flower color, they crossed a light pink form of the early-blooming star magnolia, Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’, with a purple form of the saucer magnolia, Magnolia liliflora ‘Nigra’. These species came originally from China. They carefully tested the resulting seedlings for their ability to escape those spring frosts, and the variety called ‘Susan’, is one of 8 varieties in the Girl Series they eventually released to all nurseries, without any patents, as a gift to the gardens of the nation. If you want to grow a magnolia – and you should – then choose one of this range and be sure of flowers every spring. Among them all, we think the Susan Magnolia is outstanding, and so do our customers. This variety sells out fast, so order now while our limited stock remains available.

The Alta Southern Magnolia grows into a narrow, upright tree, a little more than twice as tall as it is wide. This is very different from the original southern magnolia, which is very wide-spreading, and that can be wider than it is tall. Within ten years your tree will be approaching, or even exceeding, 20 feet tall, but be only 8 to 10 feet wide. The branching is very dense, and it readily forms a solid tree, making it useful for screening. The leaves are large, 6 to 8 inches long, but narrower than in other forms of this tree, just 1½ to 2½ inches wide. This give the tree a distinctive, neater character. The upper surface of the leaves is a lustrous, glossy deep green, and the lower surface is covered in a dense rusty-brown ‘fur’, called pubescence. Even if this tree didn’t flower, it would be grown just for the beauty of its foliage.

Growing Alta Southern Magnolias

Plant the Alta Southern Magnolia as a specimen tree on a lawn, or around your home. Planted between windows it is a beautiful way to cover a blank wall and add height without a lot of width to your foundation planting. It is a great choice for the back of large beds, or for the sunny edges of a woodland. It also makes a great screen or informal hedge. Planted at 5-foot intervals it will give solid cover in 5 years or so. Do not plant less than 4 feet apart, as the roots need room to develop. Pruning is not needed to maintain a narrow profile on a screen, as this tree is naturally narrow and upright.

Appearance

You do need a little patience to see your Alta Southern Magnolia flower, but it will be very worth it. Young trees normally take 5 to 8 years to flower, but when they do it is spectacular. This variety has full-sized flowers, 8 to 10 inches across, with eight thick lush creamy-white petals that open out almost flat, creating the classic ‘dinner-plate’ look of this tree. Flowering is in spring, in mid-April in warmer zones, and a little later in cooler ones. The flowers have a delicious rich fragrance that wafts across your garden, conjuring up images of ‘Gone with the Wind’. Each individual flower lasts around 10 days, and since they open in succession, blooming continues for 2 months or more. Older trees may produce more buds in summer, depending on the climate and growing conditions. Flowers are followed by unusual-looking seed pods, that look a little like pine-cones. These are rusty-brown in color, and in late summer or fall they ripen, releasing surprising large, bright red seeds, which hang from a mucous thread for a time before dropping to the ground.

There is a more technical feature to this variety too. Southern magnolia trees are known to be difficult to transplant, and they often have coarse, long roots that are easily damaged. The Alta Southern Magnolia is notable for its very fibrous, dense root system that makes it easy to plant, and that reduces the risks of transplant shock and other problems – another good reason to choose this variety over other ones.

Planting and Initial Care

Plant the Alta Southern Magnolia in a sunny place. The further north you are, the more important full sun is. This tree is completely hardy in zones 7 to 10. In zone 6 plant in a spot protected from cold winter winds, with winter sunshine all day long. This tree can even be grown in warmer parts of zone 5, in sheltered gardens, preferably up against a south-facing wall. The corner between two walls of your home is ideal in a cooler zones, or grow it as an espalier, spreading the branches out across the wall, for a beautiful garden feature. The soil must be well-drained, and moist, rich soil is ideal. Soil that is slightly acidic is beneficial or use chelated iron supplements in spring on alkaline soils. Good soil over a clay base is acceptable, and the clay is a good source of nutrients, as this tree is a heavy feeder, especially when young. Use a balanced fertilizer blended for broadleaf evergreen trees. Rich organic mulches over the root zone in spring are a good way to both conserve moisture and provide a broad range of nutrients to your tree. Watering during dry spells in summer, especially in the early years, is valuable too. If the leaves begin to look pale green, you probably need to water more, apply more fertilizer, or both. 

History and Origins of the Alta Southern Magnolia

The Alta Southern Magnolia was found in 1993 by Thomas Julian Strickland. It was a plant among a batch of seedlings grown in 1989 from seed of the southern magnolia variety ‘Hasse’. The seedlings were growing at a nursery in Bulloch County, Georgia. Strickland noticed the superior root system when he grew cuttings from the tree, and soon saw the very narrow, columnar form of his plant. He named it ‘TMGH’ and patented it in 2000. Our plants are produced from stems taken from plants directly descended from that original plant, and they are genetically identical to it. Considering how very suitable this tree is for smaller gardens, and how hardy it is, we know that our stock will soon be gone – so order now and enjoy the beauty of the Alta Southern Magnolia.