MAGNOLIA

The majority of the deciduous Magnolias listed here are grafted plants of the more recent hybrids. These have been bred (particularly in America and New Zealand) for large flowers, reliability of flowering and most importantly, to flower from a young age. This is enhanced because they are grafted.

Thus it is no longer necessary to wait over 25 years for your Magnolia to flower; indeed some of these have flowered on the nursery. It is possible that once planted, they will grow strongly for a season or two and not flower as result. However, they have the capability to flower and will do so profusely as soon as they settle down to their new site!

Magnolias are totally cold hardy and foliage blackened by a late frost will soon sprout again in an incredibly resilient manner. However, the flowers can be spoilt by frost. Thus, in colder areas choose the later flowering varieties. I would suggest that the M. campbellii forms are best considered only in Cornwall and favoured Western locations.

Traditionally considered to have a preference for acid soil, we have concluded that the structure of the soil is more important than the pH. They hate to dry out in the summer. This condition alone will damage them more than anything else.

Important: In many cases, large plants are available, some of which have already flowered. Sometimes we have a choice of sizes, both big and small. Other times it's only big or only small. In many cases there are only a few of each cultivar becasue we have such a large collection. Therefore it is impossible within the time I have available to indicate exact size availability on each cultivar. Suffice it to say therefore that the smallest Magnolias are 2 year olds in 3 litre pots - these are around 3' (1m) tall and are fundamentally a single stem. Where older plants are available, they will be more expensive of course! However, they will be larger, will have more side branching and are generally more substantial. If planting in September or late spring, then it is usually possible to establish a smaller plant. Within this time I would strongly recommend larger plants - our experience is that Magnolias establish much more reliably from larger plants.