Magnolia Flowers, Types of Magnolia Trees & Planting Tips

Irrespective of the place you reside, I think about that you’ve seen or skilled the majesty of the Southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora. Its stately kind, shiny leaves, and stylish flowers make it a favourite, and the grand look creates an announcement in nearly any setting. This might clarify the rationale why Magnolia grandiflora, native to the southeastern United States, generally graces cities all around the globe. As a result of it was such a good looking tree, Magnolia grandiflora was taken to Europe within the early 1700s. It grew to become an on the spot hit. With its straightforward adaptability to many soil sorts and climates, it rapidly unfold to different nations. In the present day, our Southern magnolia is likely one of the most generally planted decorative evergreen bushes on this planet!

The Southern magnolia, additionally referred to as the American tree, has many different claims to fame as effectively. It’s the state tree of Mississippi and the state flower of that state and Louisiana. The biggest Southern magnolia present in Smith County, Mississippi, is greater than 122 ft tall with a trunk diameter of greater than six ft! Southern magnolias can have creamy white flowers giving off a lemony perfume and rising between six to 12 inches in diameter.

The magnolia household is likely one of the oldest bushes in existence. As a result of magnolias are so previous, their flowers should not have true petals and sepals; as a substitute, they’ve petal-like tepals. Additionally, the flowers don’t produce actual nectar, however appeal to pollinating beetles with aromatic and sugary secretions.

Sorts of Magnolia

With so many cultivars obtainable as we speak, you may plant the Southern magnolia of your selection primarily based on the mature measurement that you simply want. So whether or not you want a champion tree, just like the Goliath in Mississippi, or one which solely reaches 15 ft, yow will discover it as we speak at your native backyard middle.

• ‘Little Gem’: a dwarf selection rising to about 10 ft by 20 ft with small foliage and flowers
• ‘Brackens Brown Magnificence’: a dense, mid-size magnolia and one of many hardiest magnolias for chilly climate
• ‘Margaret Davis’: massive, broad property magnolia and one of many quickest rising magnolias
• ‘Goliath’: flowers as much as 12 inches throughout, a protracted blooming interval, and a bushy behavior of development
• ‘Hasse’: a 12-foot dwarf that can be utilized for a compact, dense hedge

Planting Magnolia Bushes

1. Dig your gap twice as large as your rootball however not fairly as deep.

2. When you have a heavy soil that doesn’t drain effectively, dig a 24 to 36-inch submit gap within the backside of your planting gap and fill it stuffed with gravel.

3. Plant your tree a little bit increased than the prevailing grade round it.

4. Water it in effectively and ensure that it doesn’t dry out within the first 12 months. Magnolias like their roots to be moist, however not moist.

5. Apply mulch about one-inch deep, masking the foundation ball and soil to at the very least the drip line of the tree.

6. Apply a small quantity of low-dose fertilizer, corresponding to a 4-1-2, across the drip line of the tree as soon as a month from March till July.

7. You may count on pure leaf drop in Might and June; don’t fear! More than likely, your tree is ok.

Makes use of for Magnolias In and Out of the Backyard

• Espalier bushes on a tall backyard wall, home wall, or out of doors fire.
• Use the shiny foliage for the muse of a vacation association.
• Its aromatic flowers are good for a summertime centerpiece.
• Anchor the nook of your home with an imposing magnolia.

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By Troy W. Rhone

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