Magnolia, a sumptuous tree

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Magnolia is are among the most beautiful spring-blooming trees.

Main Magnolia facts

Name – Magnolia soulangeana
Family – Magnoliaceae
Type – tree

Height – 16 to 50 feet (5 to 15 meters)
Exposure – full sun, part sun
Soil – rich and cool

Foliage – deciduous  – Flowering – spring

Whether deciduous or evergreen, they are covered with spectacular flowers at the end of winter.

Planting magnolia

It is recommended to plant magnolia at the beginning of fall. This allows for root development before winter and ensures correct settling in for spring.

For evergreen species, you may plant in spring without expecting any problems.

Evergreen magnolias can reach heights of 65 feet (20 meters). They’re quite tall and must thus be planted at a certain distance from houses and buildings.

Deciduous magnolias are smaller, around 16 to 20 feet (5 to 6 m) tall, to the point that it’s possible to plant them along walls to follow a lattice.

• If you plant during winter, avoid frost and freezing.
• Whatever the case, choose a spot that is not too hot in summer nor too wet in winter.
• After planting, provide for regular watering during spring.
• It needs to be watered in case of heat waves.

After planting

• Mulch the base of the tree to retain moisture and avoid weed growth.
• Pine bark is perfect because they like acidic soil.

Multiplying magnolia

It’s possible to prepare cuttings in summer or layering in spring.

Care and problems while growing

Magnolias require little care and even resists diseases very well. Take note of these little bits of advice to help you get better blooms:

• Mulch the base with bark to sustain needed soil acidity levels.
• Mulching also helps retain moisture in the soil that your magnolia will benefit from during hotter months.
• If it doesn’t bloom, remove surface dirt until reaching roots, and replace with heath soil. This is called topdressing.

Whether deciduous (M. soulangeana) or evergreen (M. grandiflora), magnolias are trees that require very little care when correctly settled in. They will decorate your garden for many long years.

Parasites rarely attack magnolias. Even though, occasionally, you might find a few aphids. Rarer still are possible red spider mites in summer.

Pruning magnolia

It isn’t really necessary to prune, but if you wish to reduce the size of the tree or balance the branches, proceed after blooming is over or in fall.

It is possible to prune main branches in winter to balance the silhouette.

Take note that what is most distinctive about magnolias is their natural shape.

• It is important to keep it so that branches don’t seem out of balance.
• Remove weak or broken branches regularly.

Learn more about magnolia

Magnolia is famous and even inspired many artists!

It stands out for its magnificent and generous blooming that comes in hues of pure white to pinkish white to pink.

Magnolia trees are very common, but there are also shrub varieties that are ideal for small gardens.

Note that there are two major types of magnolias:

– Deciduous magnolia, also called saucer magnolia or Magnolia soulangeana. They bloom at the beginning of spring, before leaves appear.

– Evergreen magnolia, also called Southern magnolia or Magnolia grandiflora. Flowers appear in summer, offering great tulip-shaped blooms that span 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) across.