MARVELLOUS MAGNOLIAS (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

MARVELLOUS MAGNOLIAS

1:51pm Sunday 23rd January 2011

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What sight can compete with a magnolia tree in full bloom? With their beautiful, exotic, waxy flowers they are unique and make a spectacular beginning to spring. Sometime between April and May the flowers open before the leaves appear on the tree. One of the sad things about moving was leaving behind the Magnolia x soulangiana which friends had bought for me. Over the years I had watched it grow into quite a large tree densely covered in flowers every spring. Now I enjoy magnolias growing in local gardens and never tire of the sight.

Magnolia x soulangiana is a hybrid between M.denudate and M.liliflora, both deciduous and native to China. The large flowers are cup-shaped and upright in a beautiful shade of soft pink. They open within a few days of each other, smothering the tree with colour. Unfortunately frosts are a danger and can badly damage the flowers. If this happens there is nothing to be done, just look forward to the next spring. The tree is so beautiful and adds so much to the garden all year round that it is well worth the wait. Sometimes, in an exceptionally mild autumn we are treated to a second flowering in October. There is always a price to be paid and this late bonus is likely to reduce the flowering for the next year.

Springtime is the best time to plant in a site that is warm and sheltered. The soil should be well prepared. Magnolias don’t get on with alkaline soil so it needs to be slightly acidic mixed with plenty of good compost or well rotted manure. Be careful not to plant too deeply, it is important to make sure that the planting depth is the same as in the container from the nursery. Water well and finish by covering with a thick layer of mulch.

Magnolias generally speaking don’t need to be pruned just remove any dead branches when and if necessary. The roots are very shallow and to protect them from late frosts cover the base of the tree with leaf mould or garden compost. As a bonus this will add nutrients to the soil and feed the tree.

As well as the wonderful M. x soulangiana hybrids look for M. stellata, this smaller plant is also known as the star magnolia and M. kobus which comes from Japan and bears white scented flowers. If you have a suitable wall M. grandiflora can be a truly stunning sight. Its large evergreen frame is enhanced in summer with massive white goblet shaped flowers smelling of lemons but for most of us it will grow much too large. As a general rule magnolias don’t do well as container plants as they really don’t like their roots being too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Both of which are difficult to avoid in a pot. If you want to try go for one of the smaller M. stellata forms and if you get it right you can be sure it will look spectacular.

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