Magnolias

© 2024 CTC Productions Pty Limited. All rights reserved. The material presented on this website, may not be reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of CTC Productions.
Magnolia flowers

Magnolias

Deciduous magnolias produce their spectacular winter and early spring blooms on naked branches. Although expensive plants to buy they are longlived, slow growing trees which bring a stunning display to your garden each year. Colours range from port wine through burgundy shades to white (Magnolia denudata) which can be more difficult to grow than some hybrids.

Recent breeding work has seen the development of a range of new magnolia varieties that are even more spectacular than those already familiar to gardeners. The flowers are richly coloured and very large. Most are also fragrant. Another bonus offered by these new varieties is narrow, compact growth. M. x soulangiana for example, a widely grown garden magnolia, is a very broad, spreading tree in its mature form. These new cultivars are expected to reach about half the spread of M. x soulangiana.

If you live in a cool or mild climate, consider planting a deciduous magnolia in your garden for its display of beautiful winter and early spring flowers that last for several weeks.

New varieties

  • ‘Caerhays Belle’ is a Dutch-bred magnolia developed from a cross between M. sprengeri ‘Diva’ and M. sargentiana var. robusta . The magenta pink flowers are large and perfumed.
  • ‘Elizabeth’ is a hybrid between Magnolia acuminata and Magnolia denudata. It has primrose yellow fading to cream coloured flowers that are perfumed. It is later flowering than other magnolia varieties and flowers in late spring. It is hardier than M. denudata because of hybrid vigour but is slightly smaller than most of the commonly grown magnolias (reaching around 5m or 15′ in 10 years).
  • ‘Phillip Tregunna’ is a hybrid between M. campbellii and M. sargentiana var. robusta. It has large, voluptuous, perfumed mauve flowers which become silver in the centre.
  • ‘Vulcan‘ is a hybrid between a M. liliiflora hybrid and M. campbellii ‘Lanarth’, a cultivar not widely known in Australian gardens. This hybrid was raised in New Zealand. The flowers are large, wine red and lightly perfumed.

What to expect: Plants are one year old when sold and will take another three years until they are mature enough to flower.

When well grown, after about 10 years of age, these magnolias are around 3m (10′) wide and 5m (15′) high. With age they will develop a rounded crown of growth. Most of these cultivars are grafted onto Magnolia kobus understock, which is tough, vigorous and has conferred its vigour to these large flowered hybrids.

Best climate: In frost prone areas protect young plants for the frost season. They will not tolerate exposure to temperatures below zero.

In sub-tropical zones such as Brisbane or inland regions plant deciduous magnolias in a cool spot with shelter from hot afternoon sun and hot winds. Keep well watered especially in summer.

Care: It is vital to keep new plants well watered both in pots or in the ground. If they dry out the leaves will become brown, dry and brittle and the plant may die or will be set back severely in its growth. Once plants are well established they are more resilient but still require regular, deep watering through spring and summer, particularly in hot climates.

These magnolias grow best in a slightly acid soil but do not cope well with extremely acidic soils. An ideal pH is around 6-6.5. Where a pH is below 6 apply liberal applications of dolomite lime and water well.

Hint: Use a pH test kit to test your soil if you are unsure of its pH. Test kits are available from garden centres.

Cost and availability

These newly released varieties may be extremely hard to find in nurseries this year but, where available, will cost between $35 and $45 each. More plants will be available in late spring and next year so ask your nursery to order plants for you or contact one of the following nurseries that stock the new hybrids.

NSW
Parker’s Nursery
45 Tennyson Avenue
Turramurra, 2074
Phone: (02) 9487 3888

Tim’s Garden Centre
2 Queen Street
Campbelltown, 2560
Phone: (02) 4626 7022

QLD
Coroneos Nursery
266 Herries Street
Toowoomba, 4350
Phone (076) 331 308

SA
Blows Bros Nursery
150 Sturt Valley Road
Stirling, 5152
Phone: (08) 8339 1309

TAS
Allans Garden Centre
East Tamar Highway
Rocherlea, 7248
Phone: (03) 6326 3668

Allans Garden Centre
285 Westbury Road
Prospect, 7250
Phone: (03) 6344 6257

VIC
Cloudehill Nursery and Garden Centre
89 Olinda-Monbulk Road
Monbulk, 3793
Phone: (03) 9751 1009

Greenery Heidelberg
4 Banksia Street
Heidelberg, 3084
Phone: (03) 9459 8433

Going-Going-Green
200 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, 3122
Phone: (03) 9819 9966

Wishing Well Nursery
407-409 Monbulk Road
Monbulk, 3793
Phone: (03) 9756 6107

WA
At present no stock is on sale in Western Australia although specimens of the new cultivars have been planted at Araluen Botanic Park at Roleystone. They are part of a large magnolia collection in the garden. The first flowering of the new specimens is expected in spring 1998. This garden is open daily. Phone: (08) 9496 1171.