Quick Guide: spring, hardy, full sun, height: 6m/20ft, width: 3m/10ft
Magnolias are among the most popular trees grown as specimens in a lawn or at the front of a town house. They bear- huge, cup-shaped flowers of pink or white in early spring, often when it seems too cold for such beautiful blooms to survive - but they do, as long as they are sheltered from chilling winds.
GROWING Plant in spring in fertile, well-drained soil. Support with double stakes until well established. Top dress annually in spring with a 5cm/2in layer of well-rotted compost, peat or leaf mould. No pruning is necessary.
PROPAGATION Take 10cm/4in cuttings of semi-hardwood shoots in summer and place in coarse sand in a propagating frame at 21°C/70°F. When rooted, pot on and over winter in a cold frame. In spring, transfer to a nursery bed. Grow on for 3 years before transferring to permanent positions. Alternatively, layer suitable stems in spring
SPECIES Magnolia salicifolia, upright and fast-growing, star shaped white flowers lOcm/4in wide open before the leaves unfurl. As the name indicates, the leaves are willow-like; M. denudata, up to 4.5m/15 ft, slow-growing, abundance of fragrant white flowers 15cm/6in across.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Frost damage, grey mould, honey fungus.
