MAGNOLIA continued

MAGNOLIA 'Star Wars' 
(M. campbelllii x M. liliiflora) This one is (possibly) my favourite Magnolia! The outside of the flower is pink, but somehow a different pink to all the others - more apricot pink than purple - and creamy white within. The flowers are more star-shaped than most and last for about a month. Although large, they do not give the "blowzy" feel of some. It branches freely to make a broad headed small tree. 4m. We have found it to be a more reliable flowerer for us than its campbellii parentage led us to suspect. Starting mid season, it flowers for a long period.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA 'Stellar Acclaim'
A M. acuminata hybrid of unknown parentage, the delightfully fragrant pale yellow flowers are flushed with at their base. Reminiscent of M. stellata in form, they open up very flat along the branches to 20cm across. Not overly vigorous, it will eventually make a small spreading tree of 6m, with very dark green foliage. 
From £32.00


Magnolia stellata

I have developed a keen interest in the Star Magnolia of late, inspired by its potentially greater tolerance of difficult sites (remember our heavy wet alkaline clay in a frost pocket!) than many of the larger flowered cultivars.

Typified by narrower strap-like petals in shades of pink and white, these more shrubby growers are happiest in a sunny site, though they are more shade tolerant than many and can therefore be supremely effective in open woodland glades. Interestingly, the exact colour will be determined by temperature, with deeper pinks being displayed in a mild spring.

M. stellata cultivars have wonderful potential in the garden: as specimens in a small garden, in the border or even in a large pot. Typical growth rates are 30cm per year for the first 5 years, slowing subsequently. As with all magnolias, they like a moisture retentive soil, so a surface mulch after planting will be invaluable.

We are developing an extensive range of these, as well as their allied cousins (selections of M. x loebneri). Additional selections will become available, initially in small number, over the next few years. Watch the website for details.
MAGNOLIA stellata 'Centennial'
Raised at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts it was named in 1972 to celebrate their centennial year. The impressive, larger white flowers have up to 33 petals.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA stellata 'Dawn'
Each flower can potentially have more than 50 pink petals.
From £64.00
MAGNOLIA stellata 'Jane Platt'
This garden selection from Oregon produces gorgeous flowers which are dark pink in bud, maturing to a pink-blushed white. The floral display is enhanced by the fact that the flowers have 20-30 petals. 
From £64.00
MAGNOLIA stellata 'King Rose'
The pretty flowers are white flushed pink.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA stellata 'Rosea'
Typically having 8-12 petals, the flowers are therefore more airy, giving a more delicate effect. Pink in bud, they fade to white. 
From £32.00
NEW MAGNOLIA stellata 'Royal Star'
A 1960 seedling from 'Waterlily' the silver-pink buds open to pure white. But since it is 2 weeks later than most stellata clones, it often escapes the frost.
From £32.00
NEW MAGNOLIA stellata 'Water Lily'
Unfortunately there is an element of confusion surrounding this one. The typical American clone ('Waterlily') has pink flowers whilst that prevalent in Europe ('Water Lily') has white. This is the latter. Perhaps the most vigorous cultivar, the petals have great substance, making this a robust but beautiful choice.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA 'Summer Solstice' 
This hybrid between a pink flowered form of M. globosa and M. hypoleuca from the garden of eminent magnolia man Maurice Foster is highly rated. The lovely pinky white flowers are produced late enough to avoid most frosts. Potentially a large tree.
Not available this season 
MAGNOLIA 'Sunburst'
(M. 'Woodsman' x M. 'Gold Star')  flowers. Narrow buds open into upright, narrow, very deep canary yellow flowers as much as 13cm tall. The beautiful foliage is heavy textured and quilted, with wavy margins. A vigorous tree of upright habit to 10m.
Not available this season
MAGNOLIA 'Sundance'
(M. acuminata x M. denudata) Large yellow flowers (20cm across) produced in late April - early May escape most of the frosts. A vigorous, hardy form.
Not available this season 
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Suntown'
(M. acuminata x [M. acuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x M. x soulangeana ‘Picture’]) Intense yellow flowers.
£32.00
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Susannah van Veen'
Thought to be a hybrid between M. sargentiana and M. sprengeri ‘Diva’, it is easiest described as being similar to ‘Caerhays Belle’, only darker. Thus, the large flowers are a brilliant rose-red and lack purple shading. Eisenhut notes that it has large furry decorative buds in wintertime, but I should add that is not unique to this cultivar.
Specimens available in Spring 2009
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Swedish Star'
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA 'Sweetheart'
(M. sprengeri ‘Diva’ x M. sargentiana var. robusta) The broadly petalled flowers are a deep rich pink, outside and a pale pink inside.
Specimens available in Spring 2009
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Sweet Merlot'
(M. ‘Sweet Simplicity’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’) A recent hybrid producing rich red flowers; although not large by the standards of some magnolias, they are freely produced, a fabulous colour and a very neat and tidy, almost globular, shape. I’m told that this cultivar lasts particularly well as a cut flower.
Specimens available in Spring 2009
MAGNOLIA 'Sweet Valentine'
(M. ‘Sweet Simplicity’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’) Wonderful rich burgundy red globular flowers are paler within. Compact habit and smaller stature.
Specimens available in Spring 2009
MAGNOLIA 'Thousand Butterflies' 
(M. denudata x M. x veitchii) The lovely, smallish ivory white firm textured flowers suffused with soft rose pink at the base are an upright, tulip shape. 
Not available this season 
MAGNOLIA 'Todd Gresham' 
(M. soulangeana 'Rustica Rubra' x M. x veitchii) A fast growing tree with large bowl-shaped fragrant flowers, opening to 10" across. Deep pinky red in colour.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA 'Tranquility'
A hybrid of unknown parentage from M. acuminata, the broad petalled, pale golden flowers are delicately blushed with rose at the base and flatten as they open, to approximately 20cm wide. The foliage is wavy and cupped upward whilst the growth habit is rounded. Expect 5-6m.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA virginiana 
This was the first species of Magnolia to be introduced to cultivation, as long ago as 1688. Generally evergreen, it tends to be smaller growing than most forms of M. grandiflora. The white flowers open in May to June and are deliciously lily-scented. I am thrilled to add this to our collection.
Not available this season 
MAGNOLIA virginiana 'Moonglow'  
This exciting selection has been micro-propagated, so will flower from a much younger age than a comparative seedling. Hardy to -33 degrees Fahrenheit, it blooms over a long period in late spring with a delightful citric fragrance.
From £32.00 
MAGNOLIA 'Vulcan'
(M. campbellii mollicomata 'Lanarth' x M. liliiflora hybrid) Declared as the finest Jury hybrid to date, this stunning selection from New Zealand has heavy textured, rounded blooms of the most amazing ruby red. Although it flowers from a very young age, the full richness of the colour will develop as the plant matures. Erect in habit, to 6m.
Specimens available in Spring 2009 
MAGNOLIA 'Wada's Memory' 
A hybrid from M. x kewensis, I love the grace of this tree. Eventually a broad headed large tree producing masses of very fragrant, white flowers in April. The petals are narrower than those of most of our other Magnolias.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA x wieseneri 
(syn. M. x watsonii) (M. hypoleuca x M. sieboldii) Perhaps the most strongly scented of all Magnolias. It becomes a small tree, the upward facing flowers open in June-July. Rounded white buds open to creamy white flowers with prominent rosy crimson stamens.
£32.00
MAGNOLIA x wieseneri 'Aashild Kalleberg'
This is a wonderful selection, being more vigorous and inclined to form a symmetrical, single stemmed tree than (certainly our clone of) M. x wieseneri.  Unexpectedly the flowers have 8 to 9 pure white petals, appearing shaped like a tulip on the first day, before opening out like a saucer—25cm across—the next day. Stamens have a deep red colour when pollen is shed, and are very much like those of M. sieboldii. The original plant is now approximately 6m tall at 19 years of age, is very floriferous over a long period of time (flowering particularly heavily in late summer) and very hardy. The fruity fragrance is just right – strong enough to be noticeable, but not as to be overpowering. It is described by Olav Kalleberg, its raiser (to whom we are indebted for our stock) as being reminiscent of pineapple, vanilla and aniseed.
Not available this season
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Yaeko'
(M. 'Ann Rosse' x M. liliiflora) This forms a rather elegant, slender tree. The large red-purple flowers have 9-12 tepals, and open flat before reflexing later.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA 'Yellow Bird'
(M. acuminata x M. x brooklynensis 'Eva Maria') A delightful yellow hybrid, which compared to Yellow Fever produces smaller flowers but of a darker yellow. The blooms open at about the same time as the leaves, and last for two or three weeks.
Not available this season 
MAGNOLIA 'Yellow Fever' 
(M. acuminata x M. denudata) The yellows are always popular - this more recent American hybrid blooms late enough to avoid most frost damage. The fragrant flowers may be up to 20cm across. The deep yellow flower buds fade to creamy yellow as they open.
Sold out
MAGNOLIA 'Yellow Lantern'
(M. acuminata ssp. subcordata ‘Miss Honeybee’ x M. x soulangeana 'Big Pink') Huge lemon-yellow flowers maintain their tulip-like shape, lasting a particularly long time.
Sold out
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Yellow River' 
From £32.00
NEW MAGNOLIA 'Yellow Sea'
(M. acuminata x M. denudata) Another wonderful yellow-flowered selection, this time from Ferris Miller of the Cholipo Arboretum in Korea.
From £32.00
MAGNOLIA zenii 'Pink Parchment'
M. zenii itself is a rare new species from China introduced in the early 1980’s. This, the first named clone was grown and named by Mike Dirr from Arnold Arboretum seed, to first bloom in 1997. Flowers are about 10cm across, with purple-pink striping on the outside, white on the inside, and very fragrant. Our experience so far is that it makes a wonderfully tidy, symmetrical tree, that is weather resilient and prolific in its flower.
From £32.00
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