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Magnolia tree are some of the earliest - bloomingflowering trees and shrubseach year . Most develop large , cup - mold blanched , pink , or lavender flowers in late wintertime or springiness , with Asian magnolias generally flower before their glossy foliage appears and North American diverseness afterwards . Those magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree blossoms , which have a citrusy aroma , are follow by brown , pink , or red strobile - like seedpod containing red seeds .
Whether you ’d care to describe a magnolia or want to pick theperfect tree for your yardout of the 100 of species out there , we ’ve curated a handful of popular magnolia below . Just keep in mind that the type of magnolia trees distinguish here are the original species , meaning their cultivars might have unlike trait .
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1. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Most common in coastal area of the US Southeast but receive as far due north as New York , this aboriginal deciduous - to - evergreen plant magnolia tree ( or shrub ) rise up to 100 foot tall . Sweetbay magnolia tree start to raise 2- to 3 - in lemon - scented whitened blossom in spring , which can continue to bloom on and off during the summertime .
Hardy in USDA zone 5 through 10 , the sweetbay magnolia put up sloughy soils well than most magnolias , but it ’s currently anendangered plantin New York and imperil in Pennsylvania . Two cultivars , ‘ Emerald Tower ’ and ‘ Northern Belle , ’ can stay evergreen as far north as Zone 4 .
easily For : Lawns , nicety , and rain gardens
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2. Saucer Magnolia (Magnoliaxsoulangeana)
Also known as the Nipponese magnolia plant , this hybrid in reality is a cross between the Chinese speciesM. denudataandM. liliflora . It is named for Etienne Soulange - Bodin , the Gallic trooper who create it after Napoleon ’s defeat allow him to rag his rage for horticulture to a more permanent sort of glory .
Growing over 30 feet tall and flower in late wintertime to mid spring before its 3 to 6 - inch leaves seem , this deciduous type is hardy in USDA Zones 4 though 9 . Its 5- to 10 - in white , pink , or lavender blooms , seen in cultivars such as ‘ Ann ’ and ‘ Rustica Rubra , ’ can be either cupful or saucer shaped .
well For : Lawns and patio
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3. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
on-key to itsgrandifloraspecies name , the Graeco-Roman southerly magnolia tree diagram produces bombastic clean blooms 8 to 12 inches across during late spring and early summertime , though it may make encore carrying into action later . Growing up to 80 foot magniloquent , thisflowering treesprouts 5- to 10 - column inch dreary evergreen leaves with lighter light-green or rust hued bottom .
It makes an levy shade tree for large properties in zone 6 though 10 but may appear a bit overpowering on smaller one . If you prefer a more succinct version of all that southern splendor , try cultivar such as ‘ Bracken ’s Brown Beauty ’ or ‘ petty Gem . ’
well For : Lawns and ghost
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4. Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
aboriginal to Japan and reportedly the earliest deciduous magnolia to flower , this eccentric generally pass out at 20 feet with 3 to 4 - inch white sensation - shaped peak in former winter and former saltation . allot to Jeffrey Gillman , director of theUNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens , “ There are an unbelievable range of flashy magnolia , but my favorite is the star magnolia . It put on a great show and stays a fair size for most garden . ”
Hardy in geographical zone 4 through 8 , stellarstellataalso will bloom when young . For a pink magnolia tree diagram choose a cultivar such as ‘ Pink Stardust ’ or ‘ Rosea ’ instead .
Best For : basis planting and terrace
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5. Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata)
A deciduous aboriginal tree diagram with halcyon pin color , cucumber magnolia uprise to a height of up to 80 feet with 2- to 4 - inch chartreuse , tulip - shape flowers in late saltation or former summertime . Often cover by the 6- to 10 - in farewell , those blooms are come by cucumber - work yield that mature to red with red germ .
This magnolia make an imposing andfast - growing shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , perfect for protect grass , people , and ducky from the sun in warmer months . For more prominent white-livered prime , consider cultivar such as ‘ butterfly stroke ’ or ‘ Elizabeth . ’
well For : Lawns , shade , and native gardens
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6. Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla)
According toNorth Carolina State Extension , this deciduous bigleaf magnolia has “ the large elementary leave and largest bloom of any tree autochthonous to North America . ” Matt Lobdell , chairwoman of Magnolia Society International , reports that he ab initio was “ take aback by its huge leaves at least as long as my forearm and proportionally big blossom . The whole tree diagram had a decidedly prehistorical and tropic visual aspect despite thriving outdoors . ”
Growing up to 40 foot tall in Zones 5 to 8 it sports give up to 3 feet longsighted and 8 to 14 - inch wide white flowers in leap and other summer . Cultivars let in ‘ Palmberg ’ and ‘ Purple Spotted . ’
well For : Lawn , nuance , and native garden
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7. Lily Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora)
Gardeners who prefer lowly magnolia trees or at least smaller magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leave of absence should try out the comparatively Lilliputian lily character , which top off at 12 feet tall , its 3- to 6 - in purple - punt white bloom appearing in mid to tardy spring . This Chinese deciduous species with 4- to 8 - in leaves may bloom again during the summertime in zone 5 through 8 , make its cultivar idealsmall tree for front M . Try ‘ Nigra ’ or ‘ O’Neill ’ for the purplest flowers .
When planting a magnolia tree , avoid a Dixieland - face internet site , as those warmer locations may make buds to open up too betimes in the spring — and freeze as a result .
well For : Containers , patios , and bungalow garden
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8. Kobus Magnolia (Magnolia kobus)
derive from the Japanesekobushifor “ fist ” in denotation to its opening bud , the kobus magnolia flowers in recent wintertime or the first of spring before its 8 - inch leaf appear . However , it may require 25 years of growth before it will flower well — especially if grown from seminal fluid . It can strive 40 feet in height in zone 5 to 8 with 3- to 6 - inch white flowers and is tolerant of alkaline soil .
Fortunately , this is tree can bepropagated from cuttings , as cutting - grown magnolia trees in the main mature much faster than those get from ejaculate .
comfortably For : bloom , hedging , and attracting songbirds
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9. Loebner Magnolia (Magnoliaxloebneri)
gardener who do n’t want to wait onMagnolia kobusshould try the Loebner flowering magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree which is a cross betweenM. kobusandM. stellata . Named for Max Loebner , the German horticulturist who make it , this deciduous loanblend with 3- to 6 - column inch leaves reportedly can bloom when quite new and eventually will attain 30 foot in height with 3- to 6 - inch blank flowers in late wintertime or early springiness . Its cultivar admit the pinkish and white ‘ Leonard Messell ’ and the snowy ‘ Spring Snow . ’
good For : Garden accent and wintertime gardens
10. Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetala)
A deciduous native Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , this shadiness - tolerant magnolia grows to 45 feet with 2 - foot leaves in umbrella - like whorls . Its 6- to 10 - inch lily-white bloom are trace as “ unpleasantly scented ” and appear in mid to late spring in Zones 5 through 8 . Its unusual leaf structure ease up it a moderately tropical , palm - like appearance even though it is a comparatively hardy plant .
Best For : aboriginal garden and attract songbird
11. Oyama Magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii)
aboriginal to China , theoyama(“small deal ” ) magnolia grow to 20 feet , its 4 - inch dangling lily-white prime sporting crimson stamen . bring up for German flora aggregator Philipp Franz von Siebold and blooming from late spring to mid - summertime , the deciduous tree or shrub has 3- to 6 - inch leaves that turn over jaundiced in fall in Zones 6 to 8 .
All those seasons of color make it one of thebest trees for the front yard , while its margin for nuance may make it an idealbackyard tree , as well . Try ‘ White Flounces ’ for semi - double blooming , or ‘ Michiko Renge ’ for double blush .
Best For : Courtyards , shade , and woodland gardens
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12. Wilson’s Magnolia (Magnolia wilsonii)
Similar toM. oyamaand named for E. H. Wilson , the English industrial plant collector who visited China and first accumulate the works ’s seed for export , the Wilson species also grows to a height of up to 20 feet in geographical zone 6 through 9 . Its 3- to 5 - inch dangling livid bloom , which appear in late spring and other summertime , also feature reddened or magenta stamens .
It is debate a threatened specie and tolerates alkaline soil . Although magnolia can grown as befull - sun shrubs , they generally do best in fond shade in southerly climates .
13. Chinese Evergreen Magnolia (Magnolia delavayi)
identify for Gallic missionary Jean Delavay , who originally collected its cum for exportation , this evergreen magnolia can grow up to 40 feet tall and produces 6 to 8 - inch white or pinkish blooms in mid - to - previous summertime rather than outpouring . Because the showy , Nox - fragrant heyday do n’t last long , the plant often is grown for its 4- to 12 - in leathery leaves rather than its blooms and is hardy only in Zones 8 or 9 through 11 .
well For : Night garden , wall shrub , timberland garden
14. Japanese Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia obovata)
Japan has its own vauntingly - leafed magnolia . The Japanese bigleaf magnolia ’s species name , obovata , means “ testis - shaped ” in mention to its oval green leaves , while its alternate specie name , hypoleuca , think “ white below , ” in reference to those leaves ’ lighter undersurface . The tree grows to a height of about 40 base with 6- to 20 - in leaves . Its 8 - inch white flowers ( adorn with cherry stamen ) look in late natural spring and former summer in zone 6 through 9 .
15. Banana Magnolia (Magnolia figo)
Gardeners who would like a spring botch that look and smells dissimilar than any other in the vicinity should sample farm one of the most strange magnolia mixture — the banana type . aboriginal to China , the banana magnolia grows up to 20 feet marvellous and blooms in late spring with 1- to 4 - inch emollient - to - yellow flowers , which smell like banana ! Often tinged with purple , light-green , or yellow , those blooms appear against a background knowledge of 3- to 6 - inch leaves in Zones 7 through 10 .
well For : Foundation shrubs , hedges , and Asiatic gardens
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised layer , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the right plant for your soil and neighborhood .
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