Shade and Ornamental Trees: Magnolia

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Magnolia x 'Ann'

Ann is one of the "Little Girl Hybrids" from the U.S. National Arboretum. Late blooming (April-May) which reduces the risk of frost damage. Upright, narrow growth habit and usually grown as a shrub. The first of the Little Girl Hybrids to bloom with erect, chalice-shaped reddish-purple flowers (reddish-purple outside and white inside; 20 cm long). They have a slight spicy, cinnamony fragrance.

Magnolia x 'Butterflies'

Butterfly Magnolia (Savage hybrid: M. acuminata x M. denudata) Deep yellow, upright flowers resemble butterflies sitting on branches. A superior yellow magnolia (most have creamy-yellow flowers). Deep yellow flowers are approx. 10cm across, 6-9 tepals; flowers are smaller than those of 'Elizabeth'. Fruit resembles a small cucumber (pickle!) - it is an elongated aggregate of follicles (red seeds). Fairly cold-hardy.

Magnolia 'Cameo'

Elegantly formed flowers in spring which are red-purple on the outside of petal and white on the inside. A small compact tree, Cameo makes a beautiful feature plant in small gardens, patios and containers.

Magnolia x 'Daybreak'

Daybreak Magnolia is an August Kehr hybrid introduction which should become extremely popular. It differs from M. x soulangiana in that it flowers after the risk of frost with heavily scented, deep pink, almost translucent flowers (no hint of purple). Has a narrow upright habit making it a great choice for many garden locations.

Magnolia x 'Elizabeth'

Magnolia Elizabeth is one of the first yellow magnolias available and still one of the best (large flowers, rose stamens, hardy). A cross between M. acuminata x M. denudata, Elizabeth flowers later in the season. The pointed buds open to a muted light-yellow, slightly fragrant cup-shaped flowers which fade to a cream. Rose coloured stamens. Foliage unfolds coppery before turning green. Yellow fall colour. A vigorous growing tree and very cold hardy.

Magnolia x 'Galaxy'

Galaxy is an upright, pyramidal or almost columnar small tree which usually blooms after the last frost. A cross between M. liliiflora 'Nigra' and M. sprengeri 'Diva' - a Kosar hybrid. Buds are dark red-purple, tulip shaped, opening to a lighter shade of reddish-purple with a lighter yet rose-purple-pink on the inside (12 tepals- 20-25cm across). Flowers are slightly fragrant.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Bracken's Brown Beauty'

Bracken's Brown Beauty is one of the best ornamental and cold hardy evergreen magnolias with fragrant, cream-coloured (to15cm wide) cup-shaped blooms in late spring and sparsely through summer. Elongated green follicled fruit has red seeds resembling pomegranates. Foliage is small, 15cm long, shiny green above and fuzzy brown beneath, with somewhat wavy margins. A much denser habit than other Southern Magnolias due to multiple breaks per shoot. Cone-like fruit releases pinkish red seeds. A sunny, sheltered location is advised.

Magnolia grandiflora 'D.D. Blanchard'

D.D. Blanchard flowers from spring to early summer with globe-shaped creamy-white very fragrant flowers. A Robbins Nursery introduction. Very attractive lustrous green foliage is almost orange underneath (rusty). Spectacular! In the Pacific Northwest Southern/Evergreen Magnolias do best in a sunny, sheltered location.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Edith Bogue'

Edith Bogue is possibly the hardiest Southern or evergreen magnolia selction. A sheltered location is advised. A heavy bloomer with large (to 30cm wide), pure white, lemon scented flowers through summer (and fall?). Glossy, deep green foliage is light brown underneath. Prune back side branches to strengthen tree for bearing snow loads. More open than 'Bracken's Brown Beauty'.

Magnolia 'Gold Star'

Gold Star's stunning fragrant, yellow flowers "sparkle" on the bare wood of this magnolia. This hybrid owes its star-shaped flowers to the stellata parentage and the soft yellow colour from the acuminata (Miss Honeybee) side of the family. New foliage has a very attracive burgundy flush, which will gradually disappear as the leaves mature to a dark green.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Victoria'

Victoria is a hardy evergreen magnolia selection found in Victoria, B.C. Large glossy green leaves have a rusty-red indumentum on the underside. The flowers, appearing in late spring through summer (June-September?) are large (20-25cm diam), pure white and lemon-scented. In the Pacific Northwest evergreen magnolias do best in a sunny, sheltered location.

Magnolia 'Judy Zuk'

'Judy Zuk' is an upright, yellow-flowered, deciduous magnolia with yellow, tulip-shaped flowers with purplish flush at the base (as the leaves emerge) fragrant - look like" froot loops". Flowers have a delightful fruity scent. protected site (avoid southern exposure to protect buds from opening too early - frost))

Magnolia kobus

The Kobushi Magnolia is a multistemmed magnolia with a broad rounded shape. It flaunts cloud white, six petal flowers in the spring and grows pink fruit and red seeds trhoughout the summer.

Magnolia laevifolia 'Warm Fuzzies'

This attractive Michelia tree is evergreen. Brown fuzzy buds break into flower in summer with profuse fragrant creamy white blooms. Its dense habit is also suitable for hedging or use as a small specimen tree.

Magnolia virginiana 'Ned's Northern Belle'

Ned's Northern Belle is considered one of the hardiest Sweetbay Magnolias, although it can loose some of its leaves during a very cold winter. Ned's Northern Belle is an introduction from Ohio and has more of a tree form than shrub form. Summer flowering with large creamy-white, sweet smelling flowers. Prefers a location sheltered from strong winds.

Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Pink Star'

Pink Star Magnolia is a bushy, oval single-stem tree or multi-stemmed shrub and is one of the first magnolias to flower. As the flower buds open early they can be susceptible to frost, so a southern exposure is not recommended. A profusion of star-like, fragrant flowers open pink and fade to white (12-18 tepals - 7.5-10cm diameter).

Magnolia x 'Randy'

Randy is one of the "Little Girl Hybrids". (U.S. National Arboretum intro). Late blooming (April-May) which reducing the risk of frost damage. Large 10cm star-shaped flowers are reddish purple outside and pinkish-white inside.

Magnolia x 'Stellar Acclaim'

Stellar Acclaim, a Kehr hybrid, has pale yellow star-shaped*, fragrant flowers with a rose flush spreading from the center of narrow tepal to the base. Flowers open very flat along the branches, 15-20cm across. The whole tree has a similar look of the stellatas, but larger. New foliage is red. * Note: most yellow varieties have cup/goblet-shaped flowers

Magnolia soulangiana 'Black Tulip'

Fragrant, densely flowering, with large 15cm upright goblet shaped blooms appearing before leaves in spring. A gorgeous, dramatic specimen for a small garden. Black Tulip provides spring colour, winter branching and structure. Adaptable to most soils so can be used in mass plantings as well as containers.

Magnolia sieboldii 'Colossus'

A rare cultivar, Magnolia sieboldii 'Colossus' is a polyploid Kehr selection, similar in appearance to the species, except it has much larger, semi to fully double white (with age?), nodding flowers (to 15cm diameter; 10-17 tepals) with a cerise (lighter than the species) centre. Colossus flowers are numerous and very fragrant! The foliage is also larger than the species, to 30cm long/15cm wide.

Magnolia sprengeri var. diva 'Eric Savill'

Eric Savill is a Magnolia sprengeri cultivar, a seedling of 'Diva' (grafted in the trade to get earlier blooms) with deep red-purple flowers (erect slightly curling at the tip) much lighter inside. Flowers are large15-20cm across; purplish-red stamens. Bloom time is March-April. Very adaptable to different growing conditions as it originated in the high elevation wooded areas of Central China.

Magnolia sieboldii

Oyama Magnolia is a wide spreading shrub (or small tree) with buds like Japanese lanterns. Beautiful nodding, white, fragrant flowers (7.5-10cm wide) are accented with crimson stamens and can be admired from May until July/August! Clusters of showy crimson-red fruit follow later in the season. Long flowering.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Rustica Rubra'

Rustica Rubra Magnolia is an ever popular selection with the typical large cup and saucer blooms. Growth is upright spreading and usually shrub form. Flowers are rosy-red (fading to pinkish-white near the tips) on the outside and white inside. New foliage is reddish-green before turning dark green. Smooth, silver-gray bark.

Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Royal Star'

Royal Star Magnolia is similar to Pink Star in growth habit and requirements. "Star" flowers (10cm diam) are slightly fragrant and open with 25-30 pure white petals from pink buds. The flowers open before the foliage appears. See also Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Pink Star'

Magnolia x 'Sunsation'

Sunsation is an August Kehr hybrid (M. brooklynensis 'Woodsman' x M. 'Elizabeth') with stunning, cup-shaped, yellow to creamy-yellow flowers, flushed pink/purple at their base (to 18cm wide). Blooms very late, but still before the leaves appear!

Magnolia 'Sunset Swirl'

Sunset Swirl is another Dennis Ledvina hybrid (M. 'Pink Royalty' x M. 'Daybreak') with pink, Daybreak-like flowers that bloom later and are firmer. The flowers flatten to a pinwheel form, showing more white tones. Cold hardy

Magnolia x 'Susan'

Susan is one of the "Little Girl Hybrids". U.S. National Arboretum introduction. Late blooming (April-May) which reduces the risk of frost damage. Susan flowers with fragrant, purple-red to fuchsia flowers with paler tones in inside. The goblet-shaped (to 12.5cm wide) flowers appear just before the leaves and have 6 slightly twisted tepals.

Magnolia x 'Vulcan'

Vulcan is a Jury hybrid (M.'Lanarth' x M. lilliflora) and has magnificent, ruby-red flowers (25cm diameter) beckoning from afar with their vibrant glow. Flowers at an early age. Fairly narrow and open habit at an early age, maturing to a more rounded shape. Note: Trees planted in locations with early morning sun (in spring) may be more susceptible to frost damage to flower buds.

Magnolia x 'Yellow Bird'

Yellow Bird Magnolia is a hybrid of M. acuminata var. subcordata and M.x brooklynensis. Hardy yellow flowering tree with an upright branching habit. The fragrant, cup-shaped flowers appear as the leaves emerge. Flowers are bigger than some other yellows and can last 2-3 weeks. Slight greenish tinge at the base of outer tepals.