MAGNOLIA

MAGNOLIAS, named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol, are an ancient genus and it is thought that pollination was by beetles as the trees appeared before bees. Fossilised remains from the family are 95 million years old.

The main centre of distribution is eastern and southeastern Asia with a secondary centre in eastern North America, Central America, the West Indies and South America.

LARGE and SPECIMEN sized magnolias are almost all grafted plants. Many are also very rare.

LARGE plants are 2-3 year old grafts and SPECIMEN plants 3-5 year old grafts.

Different Magnolia varieties grow at very different speeds and therefore the size of a LARGE or a SPECIMEN plant and the exact pot size it is delivered in can vary markedly for plants of identical age and also on time of year, since Magnolias can grow very quickly.

Many more magnolia pictures can be found on the Caerhays Website and The Garden Diary.

Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes

Pests & Diseases
Scale insects, honey fungus, coral spot.
Place of origin
Nepal, India, Bhutan - Burncoose plants are grafts from specimen tree at Caerhays, Cornwall, UK.
Deciduous
Oblong-elliptic, mid-green leaves to 25cm (10in) long.
Shades of pink
All shades of pink through to Carmine (red)

White or crimson to pale pink flowers.
White
Cup-and-saucer-shaped
To 30cm (12in) across.
Frost hardy (down to -5)
Height
15m (49ft)
Spread
10m (33ft)
Tree
Vigorous conical, then spreading, tree.
Hardy - average winter
Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F)
Fertile moist well-drained soil
Humus-rich.
Neutral to acid soil
Full sun
shelter from strong winds.
Partial shade
Broadly conical
Spreading with age

Mature Size

15m (49ft)
	10m (33ft)

View Planting Tips and Care Advice

Magnolia - A guide to sizing and pricing

Sizing & Pricing of Magnolias - Video Tip ondemand_video

Magnolia - Care Guide

Magnolia - Hybridisation

Magnolia - Propagation

Magnolia - Spotlight Videos

Planting to avoid allergic reactions and asthma

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 1) Collecting Seeds

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 2) Storing Seeds

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 3) Planting Seeds

Planting seeds in spring

Trees - Care Guide

More Care Guides & Tips

Search Caerhays Garden Diary for more info & pictures

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View Planting Combinations

AZALEA - EVERGREEN 'Hinomayo' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Adolphe Audusson' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Brigadoon' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Debbie' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Galaxie' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'J.C. Williams' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Jury's Yellow' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA 'Philippa Forwood' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CAMELLIA reticulata 'Lasca Beauty' and MAGNOLIA campbellii

CORDYLINE australis and MAGNOLIA campbellii

MAGNOLIA campbellii and ARAUCARIA bidwillii

MAGNOLIA campbellii and MAGNOLIA campbellii 'Darjeeling'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and MAGNOLIA 'F. J. Williams'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and MAGNOLIA 'Mr Julian'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and MAGNOLIA 'Valentine's Torch

MAGNOLIA campbellii and MICHELIA doltsopa

MAGNOLIA campbellii and QUERCUS dentata 'Carl Ferris Miller'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and RHODODENDRON 'Assaye'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and RHODODENDRON 'Cornish Red'

MAGNOLIA campbellii and RHODODENDRON stenopetalum 'Linearifolium'

MAGNOLIA campbellii, MAGNOLIA 'Philip Tregunna' and MAGNOLIA sargentiana var robusta

MAGNOLIA 'Galaxy'

Rosy purple flowers early in the season

Small

£25.00

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Available late spring to early summer 2026
Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.

MAGNOLIA 'Genie'

This is the best new magnolia introduction from the point of view of colour to be seen in the UK for many years. Bred by Vance Hooper in New Zealand this soulangeana hybrid flowers very young and appears not to grow too big. The flowers are even darker than M.'Black Tulip' in bud and open an exquisite dark burgundy-red which they retain until they drop

Medium

£70.00

Specimen

£120.00

MAGNOLIA 'Gold Star'

A vigorous stellata hybrid which has attractive soft yellow buds and stellata-shaped flowers which fade to creamy-white. Very hardy

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA 'Goldfinch'

Very light yellow flowers. Blooms at an early age and earlier in the season than many other yellow forms

Large

£80.00

Specimen

£110.00

MAGNOLIA grandiflora

Best grown as a wall shrub. Large rounded leaves. Lime tolerant with massive creamy white flowers which are highly scented in the evenings. Easily pruned

Medium

£40.00

MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'Alta'

Bull bay, Loblolly magnolia

Very hardy variety. Columnar in habit. Dark green shiny leaves and rust coloured indumentum. White fragrant flowers

Small

£20.00

Medium

£40.00

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Specimen

£110.00

MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'D.D Blanchard'

Upright habit, dark green leaves with rich coppery indumentum on the undersides

Medium

£40.00

MAGNOLIA grandiflora 'Exmouth'

Large fragrant creamy yellow flowers late summer and autumn

Small

£25.00

Medium

£40.00

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Unavailable

Large

£75.00

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Available again from summer 2026
Could be any time, June through to end August. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.

Specimen

£110.00