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.

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Plant Details

Good to know
An ancient genus named after Pierre Magnol, French botanist, 1638-1715. Evolving before bees plants were pollinated by beetles. Grown for their showy, solitary, fragrant flowers. These can be cup-shaped, saucer-shaped, goblet-shaped or star-shaped and often appear before the leaves. Colours range from pure white to white with blushes or stains of pink or purple, rich pink and purple, and various shades of yellow. Cone-like fruit is produced in autumn on more mature specimens.
Place of origin
Himalayas, eastern and southeastern Asia, eastern North America to tropical North and South America
Youtube video
View Timelapse Magnolia 'Royal Crown'
Deciduous
Evergreen
Tall Shrub
Tree

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

Search Caerhays Garden Diary for more info & pictures

MAGNOLIA 'Purple Globe'

Huge flowers which are dark purple outside and nearly white inside. One of the very best newish magnolias at The Valley Gardens near Windsor

Large

£80.00

Specimen

£95.00

MAGNOLIA 'Purple Sensation'

A new introduction with large cup-shaped blooms of glowing orchid purple. Mature height is only 8 metres. Similar in colour to M.Lanarth but bred by New Zealand breeder Ian Baldick

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA 'Raspberry Ripple'

Upright shrub with large pale pink bowl-shaped flowers with pink striping

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA 'Rebecca's Perfume'

Light pink soulangeana. Strong grower

Medium

£70.00

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Available again from NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025
Despatch will be anytime during November or December as stock becomes available. Bareroot hedging and roses can be delayed by unfavourable weather conditions.

Specimen

£110.00

MAGNOLIA 'Red as Red'

Another impressive new hybrid bred by Ian Baldick in New Zealand. This has a globular upright reddish-purple flower which is another 'must have' for any serious collector

Medium

£70.00

Specimen

£110.00

MAGNOLIA 'Rose Marie'

Rounded tepals, pink

Medium

£70.00

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA rostrata

Huge leaves and coppery new growth. Creamy-white flowers and pink seed heads with distinct barbs

Seedling

£25.00

MAGNOLIA 'Rouged Alabaster'

White flowers tinged rose pink flowers to purple at the base

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA 'Royal Purple'

A fastigiate habit with flowers which are deep purple outside and paler inside

Medium

£70.00

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Specimen

£110.00

MAGNOLIA 'Royal Splendour'

Salmon-pink flowers with white on the inside

Large

£80.00

MAGNOLIA 'Ruth'

Large cup-shaped purple flowers

Medium

£70.00

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MAGNOLIA salicifolia

Leaves and bark are lemon-scented. Smallish white flowers in April

Medium

£70.00

MAGNOLIA salicifolia 'Rosea'

Delicate pink tinge to flowers especially in bud

Large

£80.00

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Available Early Spring 2025
Spring according to the Met office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore early spring is early March to mid-April. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.