Magnolia Trees – My Best Ten List

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Magnolias are certainly not excluded from opinions. Another gardener – for I am thus – will have different choices to me. Checking my photographic log, I see that I have spent well over a week – eleven whole days in fact – resulting in over 1,000 images, in pursuit of magnolias! Providing my memory is accurate, I feel qualified to put forward my own list of Magnolias as I have seen them in all their glory, and also having being massacred by a late frost!

In ideal conditions on a late spring day, all magnolias look superb. I have also included a few that are spectacular regardless of weather.

Most of the magnolia trees on this list that I have photographed have been situated in large gardens – RHS Wisley and Great Comp Garden in Kent in particular, but with space – and patience – all but the smallest garden can be home to a magnolia (or two!)

The list is not in any particular order of preference – more a mixture of flower colours and types. Another day would probably see a different list of ten good Magnolias. I like!

Listing of Magnolia Trees or Shrubs

• Magnolia x soulangeana has to be included in any list, for it is by far the most planted of the magnolias. It originated in a garden as a hybrid cross between Magnolia denudata – a superb white, and Magnolia liliiflora – a purplish pink. Both colours represented in the bi-coloured offspring of M. x soulangeana. Strong growing to 4-6 metres (up and across) with a spreading bowl shape habit. Masses of goblet flowers in spring – firstly on bare branched but then accompanied by mid green glossy foliage.

 

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• Magnolia stellata – the Star Magnolia is at the other end of the growth table, being a slow starter but eventually getting to a spreading 2.5m height and spread. Masses of pure white floppy ‘star’ flowers on a densely compact large shrub. Early flowering, but before that, has very visible attractive velvety furred buds. Often sold as a dwarf magnolia, but given time will outgrow that description.

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• Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ is one of the darkest of the burgundy red magnolias and probably the longest flowering. After the initial flush of Goblet shaped deep red blooms in spring – sometimes competing with the glossy new foliage, it continues to flower intermittently until mid-summer and even early autumn. This one very hardy, withstands frost damage for blooms, and has compact dense habit with ultimate height of 2.5m.

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• Magnolia grandiflora – large glossy green leaves throughout the year on a vigorous small tree or multi-stemmed bush. Huge creamy white flowers - cup shaped – starting mid to late summer and then into the autumn. Not masses of flowers, but spectacular and interesting. Ultimate size depends upon how much space you have! (Normally to 12 or so metres) - Magnolia grandiflora

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• Magnolia ‘Heaven Scent’ I sometimes wonder if the name was changed at some point from Heaven Sent to Heaven Scent. The former would be more descriptive of this beautiful magnolia, for even getting in close for photographs, I have never been enveloped in fragrance.  All magnolias have a trace of scent on a good day. This one is no exception. The flowers are tightly goblet shaped – pink on outside, opening eventually to white innards.  Height is eventually to around 10m with a slightly lesser spread.

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• Magnolia 'Gold Star' As the name suggests Star shaped yellow flowers.  Yellow being a better description than Gold – though of course sometimes gold is white! Delicate lemon yellow for me, and best placed in situation where those colours stand out in late spring. Semi shade situations enhances the shade of the flower colour. Sunny situation soon fades the flowers – even in late spring. Similar in most respects to one of its parents – Magnolia stellata.

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• Magnolia x soulangeana “Alba Superba” The main problem with white flowered magnolias, is that they ‘show’ the slightest in-bud damage from frosts etc. Otherwise the white is generally a pure white. Against a distant dark background – or as in the picture against blue sky they look stunning and always draw attention and comment.  This one I know quite well, and it stands at 5m with a slightly upright habit, though still typical bowl shape.

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• Magnolia 'Randy' brings back fond memories of the curator of a large garden offering me the name of the magnolia I had just photographed “That Magnolia is Randy” he said – frustrated at my seeking him out after every find to identify. Purplish and goblet-shaped early flowers, though opening out into large light pink stars. 2-3 metres in height seems about right for the one I have seen.

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• Magnolia ‘Susan’ is a good choice – both for its name upright purplish pink flowers. Holds well into early summer with glossy green foliage. It is similar in most respects to Magnolia ‘Jane’ with the easiest way of distinguishing them being the variation in flower shape. Both have cylindrical upright flowers, but Jane having slightly spiraling flowers. Medium and upright growth to around 3m over time.

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• Magnolia denudata AGM (of course) neatly takes us back to the start of the list. To its conception no less for it was one of the worthy parents of the ever-popular Magnolia x soulangeana.  It has pure white cup shaped flowers on bare branches – early – but for me, one of the things that makes this ‘must-have’ magnolia if you have space, is the period just before the flowers open wide. They simply stand there as white candles – a stunning sight. Magnolia denudata is a broad spreading tree or shrub – a perfect shape for the candelabra of new white flower early in spring. Height to 8.00m with a spread to match.

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• About Magnolia Trees
• Pruning Magnolias