MAGNOLIA

Commonly known as Huangshan 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

Endangered in the wild
These plants are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of 'Red Plants'. This is a list of threatened species in the wild, they are either critically, endangered or vulnerable to extinction.

Vulnerable
Good to know
Threatened by habitat loss in its native China. On the Red List.
Pests & Diseases
Scale insects.honey fungus, coral spot.
Place of origin
Northern and western provinces of eastern China.
Deciduous
Elliptic to oblong, shiny, dark-green leaves 8-14cm (3½-5in) long.
White
Pure white with slight purple stripe at base.
Cup-shaped
To goblet-shaped to 10cm (4in) long.
Suitable for small gardens
Fully hardy
Height
10m (33ft)
Spread
7m (23ft)
Tall Shrub
Tree
vase-shaped, later spreading. Produces 10cm (4in) long bright-red cylindrical fruit.
Pruning group 1
Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
Hardy - cold winter
Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F)
Spring Seasonal Interest
Fertile moist well-drained soil
Humus-rich.
Neutral to acid soil
Full sun
shelter from strong winds.
Partial shade
Broadly columnar
Broadly conical