These late-blooming magnolias from the ‘Little Girl’ series are the right size for most gardens.
If it is followed by an arctic blast of cold air, the glorious colorful flowers turn ugly overnight.
‘Ann’ magnolia is a late-blooming magnolia that escapes such carnage.
Credit: Steve Bender
The small, tidy stature and no-prune nature make it an ideal choice for the average-sized garden.
Plant this magnolia in late fall or early winter in the South.
Lightly fragrant, purple-red cup-shaped blooms grow up to 4 inches across.
Most were named after daughters of the breeders.
It grows well inUSDA Zones4-9 and likes full to partial sun.
If planting ‘Ann’ magnolia in partial shade, it should be light afternoon shade.
Pests are few and pruning is minimal.
Give it more water during the first six months after planting to help it establish roots.
Provide shelter from cold winds to protect flowers and buds.
Light
Give ‘Ann’ magnolia full sun, at least six hours per day.
Too much shade will affect the bloom.
In warm climates, it enjoys shade from the afternoon sun.
Soil
Plant in moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic (5.0 to 6.5).
After that, no supplemental water is needed except during periods of drought.
Avoid overly saturating the soil as it will damage roots.
It tolerates freezing temperatures and is hardy to -30F.
‘Ann’ magnolia grows 8 to 12 feet tall and has deep purple-pink blooms.
Do not cut the end of each limb every winter or spring.
This cuts off all the flower buds, wrecking your springtime flower show.
If you gotta reshape your magnolia, wait until it has finished blooming.
Propagating ‘Ann’ Magnolia
This magnolia is best propagated by cuttings.
Almostevery garden has room for one.
They grow slowly into a dense, multi-trunked tree.
They also make agreat privacy screenat the edge of your property.
Just be sure to add mulch around the base, keeping mulch a few inches away from the trunk.
Add a layer of rocks or perlite to the bottom to aid drainage.
Fill the pot with well-draining soil with some compost added.
Apply fertilizer, water, and add alayer of mulchat the top to protect shallow roots.
Place the pot in full sun.
Water a few times a week for the first few months until established.
Since pots dry out quickly, a potted magnolia needs watering more frequently than one planted in the ground.
Increase the container size as the tree grows, and repot in spring or fall.
If desired, transplant to the ground in late winter or early spring.
Overwintering
‘Ann’ is pretty cold-hardy and doesnt need muchwinter care.
Plant it in a location thats sheltered from cold wind.
Add a layer of mulch to protect the roots during cold weather.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Magnoliasgenerally have few problems with diseases and pests.
Common diseases that may impact ‘Ann’ magnolia include leaf spot, anthracnose,powdery mildew, and canker.
This variety is relatively pest-resistant but can have problems with scale, weevils, thrips, and snails.
To treat an infestation, use horticultural or neem oil on the entire plant.
Avoid overwatering and wet foliage.
If needed, treat the plant with a fungicide for treatment.
The large cup-shaped flowers are lightly scented and begin to open before or just as leaves appear.
In some areas, the magnolia may continue to bloom throughout the season.
There are a few reasons why they may not bloom.
Too little sunlight or not enough acid in the soil affects the bloom.
Magnolias should be planted in a sunny location so they will flower.
Use a nitrogen-based fertilizer to encourage blooming.
Leaves changing color in spring or summer indicates a problem.
Be sure to water at the soil level and do not get the leaves wet.
Treat with horticultural or neem oil and remove any dropped or infected leaves.
Leaves Turning Brown
There are several reasons a magnolia trees leaves will turn brown.
Frost damage, disease, and lack of water are causes of browning leaves.
If the leaves turn brown in early spring, its probably frost damage.
There is no treatment for this but it likely wont harm the tree.
Brown leaves in the summer indicate the tree is probably not getting enough water.
verify the soil is evenly moist, not saturated.
During a heat wave, keep your magnolia watered until temperatures decrease.
Prune damaged leaves if desired.
Saucer magnolias (Magnoliaxsoulangiana) are sometimes also referred to as tulip trees.
This hybrid magnolia is a deciduous multi-trunked shrub that grows to 8-12 feet tall and wide.
It can be shaped into a small tree by pruning the lower branches.
As a shrub, it requires little pruning since it grows in a rounded form.
‘Ann’ magnolia, like other magnolias, can live 50 years or more with proper care.
