When you breathe in the sweet fragrance of the magnolia, you know you’re home.
Key Takeaways
Few plants can beconsidered as quintessentially Southernas the magnolia (Magnolia).
Their big, waxy, glossy leaves juxtaposed with heady, fragrant flowers are familiar sights to Southerners.
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Every gardener has their favorite, and we think there’s a magnolia species for every yard.
These trees are generally slow-growing.
If you don’t know which to grow, let us help you pick theright magnolia treefor you.
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make a run at keep foot traffic around the base of the tree to a minimum.
Also, prune only when necessary.
Magnolias seldom have serious pest or disease problems, so that shouldn’t affect your tree care.
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They’re also rarelybrowsed by deeror other wild garden visitors.
Magnolias thrive in full sun or partial shade with regular water.
Ensure your magnolia receives enough water and that it’s planted in well-drained soil.
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Few magnolias tolerate soggy soil.
Sweet bay(M. virginiana)is an exception and can thrive in wet areas.
Light
Magnolia varieties prefer full sun to light shade.
In warmer or dry climates, they appreciate some shade in the afternoon.
Water
Once established, magnolias can be fairly drought-tolerant.
Give the tree two to three gallons of water for every inch of trunk diameter every time you water.
Gauge the trees water needs based on the temperature and rainfall in your area.
Additionally, if it’s really hot outside, you may need to water more frequently.
Mulching around the base of the tree, but not near the trunk, will help keep water in.
The leaves on the tree will begin to droop if you overwater.
Temperature And Humidity
Magnolia trees prefer warm and humid climates.
Seedlings can be susceptible to frost damage.
Sweet bay magnolia (M.virginiana) doesnt have special temperature needs.
Just plant it within the hardiness zone (USDA 4-10).
A balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 14-14-14 or 10-10-10 performs well for the magnolia tree.
Using fertilizer unnecessarily on some magnolias, like sweet bay, can cause fertilizer burn.
Whether evergreen or deciduous, most magnolias have large, striking blossoms composed of petal-like segments.
We’ve classifiedmagnolias by bang out, including species, hybrids, and selections.
Few trees can match it for year-round beauty.
It does, however, have its drawbacks.
Unnamed seedlings often take 10 years after planting before they come into bloom.
Though evergreen, the leaves ofM.
grandifloracan drop 365 days a year.
Newer selections like ‘Little Gem’ only grow to 10 feet wide and 20 feet tall.
Sweet bay(M. virginiana), a smaller tree, is easier to fit into most gardens.
They prefer fertile, acidic, well-drained soil.
They do not tolerate heavy wind or salt spray.
Early-flowering selections are prone to frost damage.
The flowers have petals that branch out in forms resembling many-armed stars.
Late frosts sometimes damage the early blooms of these magnolias.
Several selections of star magnolias bearrosy-pink blooms.M.
stellata’Rosea' is also commonly known as “pink star magnolia.”
In its own category isOyama magnolia(M. sieboldii), native to western China.
It bears drooping, cup-shaped, fragrant blooms after leaves emerge.
After flowering, use pruners or a pruning saw to shorten branches to where they join another branch.
Branches cut from the bottom of a large Southern magnolia tree will probably not grow back.
Southern magnolia(M. grandiflora)is good forplanting at the beach, though not on dunes.
It can stand up to some salty sea breezes.
Sweet bay(M. virginiana)tolerates wet soil.
Magnolias never look their best when crowded, and they may be severely damaged by digging around their roots.
Small deciduous magnolias show up well in large flower or shrub borders and make choice ornaments, too.
Balled-and-burlapped plants are available in late winter and early spring;container plantsare sold all year.
Do not set plants lower than their original soil level.
To avoid damaging the roots, set stakes in the planting hole before placing the tree.
When a larger container is needed, repot the tree in the spring after dormancy.
Symptoms of leaf spot include black or brown spots on the foliage, yellowing, or early leaf falling.
Issues with black twig borer have recently become more common, especially on Southern magnolias.
These insects attach younger stems, about the size of a pencil.
You’ll notice dieback on the tree from the tip.
Address the problem by cutting into good green tissue about 3-4 inches deep.
These pests often won’t kill the tree but can cause unsightly damage.
Magnolia treesneed lots of sunlight to bloom, so see to it to plant them in a sunny spot.
Pruning your tree incorrectly, over-fertilization, and root damage can also prevent magnolia trees from blooming.
However, there are a few issues you should watch out for.
Thankfully, most problems with magnolia trees can be easily treated by pruning or spraying with a horticultural oil.
Apply a horticultural oil or neem oil to help control powdery mildew.
Remove any affected fallen leaves to keep the problem under control.
Sooty Mold
Velvety black growth on the leaves means sooty mold is present.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care, magnolia trees can live anywhere from 80 to 120 years.
On rare occasions, the flowering tree can live even longer.
The oldest magnolia on record lived to be 320 years old in Italy.
Magnolia trees' root systems can grow super wide, up to 40 feet.
