Magnificent Magnolias

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Magnolias come in a range of flower colors and sizes.

 

Mag. Leonard Messel 1

 

The two most common in the landscape are Star Magnolia Magnolia stellata, which has a white flower,

 

Mag. Star 1

 

and Saucer Magnolia Magnolia soulangiana, which has a pale purple flower.

 

saucer mag

 

Many more cultivated varieties exist which include a yellow, Butterflies Magnolia Magnolia x. ‘Butterflies”, Magnolia x. loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’,

 

messel

 

Magnolia x. loebneri ‘Merril’.

 

M. Merril 1

 

Magnolias can grow as a single stem tree form, which can reach 30 feet,

 

star mag

 

or a small specimen tree that can be kept at 10 feet through pruning. Magnolias also come in a multi-stemmed small tree or shrub form.

 

mag shrub

 

The magnolias as a group are free from cultural problems except for an occasional outbreak of magnolia scale.

 

m. scale

 

The one drawback as a group is because they flower so early; they can occasionally be burned by a frost, which will damage the flowers. But the solution is look to the ‘girl’ hybrids which bloom later:

Magnolia x. ‘Blushing Belle’ – large pink-white flowers

Magnolia x ’Ann’ – Red –purple flowers

 

m. ann

 

Magnolia x. ‘Betty’ – Purple-red flowers

 

mag

 

By using varieties that bloom later, they tend be less susceptible to frost damage.

Take a look……………Magnolias are ‘MAGNIFICENT’

 

merril 3

 

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