Graham’s great plants

Magnificent magnolia

When British plant hunters first displayed their magnolia trophies, collected in the wild mountains of central China, society was scandalised! The sensuality of those silky, flesh-coloured flowers open so provocatively on bare stems was too much for an era made breathless over the sight of a lady’s ankle. Needless to say modern gardeners can’t resist the magnolia’s many charms. Linda Ross takes a good look and discovers some new and improved cultivars.

Each year, as spring rolls around, once more I am delighted with my magnolia viewing spot. I watch the grey furry buds swell on lifeless-looking branches. They look so unpromising, and yet, each year, I am dazzled by goblet-shaped blooms in ivory and pink.

Deciduous magnolias produce their blooms on naked stems in late winter so are heralds of spring.  When the adventurous plant hunters of the 18th century originally found these huge flowering trees in the Himalayas and central China, they knew they had discovered something special.  No other tree had such flamboyant flowers on bare branches!  These Chinese magnolias caused a stir when they arrived in the United Kingdom in 1789.  They were thought to be too sexy and not suitable for the conservative English gardens of the time.  These days there are few gardens in England without one and Australian and New Zealand gardeners have fallen in love with the species and the countless new hybrids available to us.

Probably the oldest species and first to flower is the creamy-white Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) which the Chinese simply call ‘Welcoming-Spring Flower’.  Buddhist monks had planted this tree in temples throughout China as early as AD 650, and pure white flowers were a symbol of purity.  This species, along with Magnolia liliflora, whose flowers are narrow, upright and deep purple, have been crossed to create one of the most popular magnolias in cultivation M. x soulangiana which had pink and white blooms.  This broad spreading tree grows to 8m high and 4.5m wide and is nick-named the ‘cup and saucer’ magnolia.

The exciting news about magnolias is the recent breeding being done in New Zealand, which has seen the development of a range of new magnolias that are even more spectacular than those familiar to us already.  New cultivars are richly coloured, very large and mostly fragrant.  The colour range has expanded to include bright pinks, lemon yellows, vivid purples and iridescent ivory.  Flower shapes have also improved with goblet, chalice, bowl, champagne, flute and cupped forms now available.  New cultivars are expected to be slightly smaller, more suited to small gardens and courtyards.  The only challenge will be deciding which one to choose!

Position

Finding the right position is important.  They need a sunny spot with shelter from the hot afternoon sun in summer and hot winds.  A northern or eastern aspect is preferable.  Young plants will need to be protected from frost in frost-prone areas for the first few winters.  Magnolias prefer a temperate climate and dislike temperatures below zero for extended periods.

Care

Magnolias sometimes sulk for the first few years.  Avoid this by getting them off to the best possible start.  Add good compost and cow manure to the soil before planting.  Plant into improved soil and create a saucer shaped depression of earth around the tree to funnel water directly into the root zone.  A thick layer of mulch (like sugar cane mulch) will keep the roots cool and moist.  Magnolias have shallow roots so they cannot disturb underground services, pipes, footings, foundations or pathways.  It is vital to keep plants well watered during dry periods and summer heat.  Once established, magnolias are resilient trees but still require regular watering if rains don’t come.  Pruning is not recommended as it encourages ugly vertical growth.

Classic Companions

Spring bulbs flower in unison with magnolias.  Yellow and white daffodils, bluebells, blue muscari (grape hyacinth) and especially pure white snow drop (Leoucojum) make pretty carpets beneath the boughs and enhance the white or blush pink flowers.

Hellebores grow well here too, as the winter sunshine through the bare branches encourages the shy nodding flowers in a range of pink, plum and green shades.

Arum lilies, with lovely spotted foliage and white (or green) lily flowers, bloom through summer and love the shade of the magnolia in full leaf.  Hostas also grow well here with a variety of foliage colours ranging from lime green to blue, with mottled crinkled and pleated leaves. I like under planting the lemon ‘Elizabeth’ magnolia with lemon clivea, which flowers at the same time.

Magic Magnolia Mulch

The application of this nutrient mulch will give your magnolia the food and energy it needs to produce excellent flowers. This magic mulch recipe should be mixed together before being laid, 10cm deep, around the base to the drip line of the tree, right out to the drip line. Apply the mulch twice a year. The first application should be after flowering in spring and the second in autumn.

5 bags cow manure (don’t substitute chicken manure which will burn the shallow roots)

1 cup Blood and bone

1 cup Sulphate of Potash

3 cups Dolomite

Plant notes:  irresistible magnolias

1. ‘Iolanthe’ has very large, fully cupped flowers with pink outer petals and an ivory centre. This is magnolia specialist Bob Cherry’s ‘pick of the bunch’ for Sydney’s climate and makes a sensational small tree, height 3m.
2. Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’ has a profusion of white, sweet-smelling, star-shaped blooms smothering bare grey stems.  Best for tubs and pots.  Known as the Star Magnolia, this lovely rounded shrub 2m x 2m flowers late spring. Other hybrids include ‘Waterlily’ which has large white flowers and ‘Rosea’ which is blush pink. 
3.  ‘Dolly Horn’ has wide, rounded cupped petals, translucent-white in colour with soft pink veining and a blush-pink base. Hard to resist!
4.  ‘Heaven Scent’ is upright in its growth habit, with lavender-pink, fragrant flowers that have white centres and pretty in-rolled margins on the petals.
5.  ‘Vulcan’ has the deepest pink flowers, almost ruby-red, uniform in tone. It was bred by Felix Jury in New Zealand. This variety flowers when young.
6.  ‘Atlas’ is a spectacular flowering tree, with flowers measuring 20cms across, opening to the full round shape of a cognac glass. The outside of the petal is pink with a deep blush at the base, while the interior is ivory white.
7.  ‘Tina Durio’ is a tall-growing variety with large, crisp, white, goblet-shaped flowers that are blush pink at the base.  The flowers open wide, eventually measuring 25cm across. 
8. 'Elizabeth' has tulip-shaped, yellow-fading-to-cream flowers with a fresh lemon fragrance. It is the last magnolia of the season to flower.
9.  ‘Apollo’ grows to 8m with a very dark purple to black bud opening out to a deep purple flower that fully opens to mi- purple revealing eye-catching purple stamens.

Where to buy: magnolias

Victoria -

Cloudehill Garden & Nursery (03) 97511009

NSW -

St Ives Village Nursery (02) 91444435

Leura Country Gardens (02) 47843146

Wallsend Nursery (02) 49501066