In case you’re searching for a magnolia tree that may deal with the chilly, this Japanese native is the proper decide. It’s low-maintenance, extensively adaptable, and hardy all the way down to a whopping -30°F (-34°C)! Not like its southern magnolia relations, star magnolia bushes are hardy to zone 4 and are available from mountainous areas.
Rising up in tropical zone 11, I had no thought how lovely any of the magnolia bushes have been. Actually, I had seen images of their giant, creamy white blooms, however with out seeing one in individual, it’s exhausting to understand the true fantastic thing about a plant. When in faculty in North Florida, I first encountered the Japanese magnolia. I used to be smitten from the primary look.
One smaller subset species price including to the backyard is the star magnolia tree or Magnolia stellata. Right here’s easy methods to develop this showstopper!
Magnolia stellata ‘Star Magnolia’ Overview
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What’s a Star Magnolia Tree?
Japanese magnolias are great blooming bushes that want delicate climates. They’re extra cold-tolerant than the evergreen varieties, so you possibly can develop them in a wider vary of local weather zones.
These deciduous bushes produce extremely lovely flowers in spring, delicate, engaging foliage in summer season, and so they even provide a little bit of fall coloration. They’re comparatively straightforward to take care of and require solely a modicum of upkeep as soon as established.
Traits
This star of the backyard is a flowering deciduous small tree or giant shrub. Compact types of star magnolia bushes might solely attain 10 toes tall, whereas commonplace varieties might develop as much as 25 toes at maturity. They’re reasonable growers, placing on between one and two toes per yr, relying on their surroundings.
Typically, Japanese magnolia species are spring bloomers, although they range by species. Star is an early bloomer, starting in February, relying on the local weather. The colder the local weather, the later they bloom, up till about April. The flowers open from delicate, fuzzy buds and appear to be giant, white stars, which is the place this species will get its title.
The flowers are between one and 4 inches throughout and are often pure white. A few cultivars have yellow undertones, and a few have a contact of pink. Relying on the variability, they’ve between 7 and 30 petals and a light-weight, nice perfume.
Moderately than the rounded, tulip form of different vegetation within the genus, these have elongated, straplike petals. Orange fruit cones develop over the summer season and supply meals for birds within the fall.
They’ll have one or a number of trunks, relying on the way you prune them whereas younger. Typically, they’ve extra branching than different Japanese cultivars. The bark is engaging, evenly textured, and silvery grey. The foliage is delicate and rectangular. It adjustments to bronze within the fall, however it’s not notably noteworthy in distinction to the spring blooming behavior.
Native Space
Star magnolia bushes are native to Japan, the place they develop within the highlands of the island of Honshu. This a part of the world has cool summers, chilly winters, and various snowfall. It’s a mountainous area, and better elevations expertise a larger fluctuation in local weather. This species got here to America within the 1860s.
Planting
The best time to plant a star magnolia tree is whereas it’s nonetheless dormant. In late winter, earlier than the buds break, dig a gap that’s two to 3 instances the width and as deep as your root ball. Select a location with some shelter from the wind, as a late frost with robust winds can hurt growing buds.
Water the tree effectively earlier than planting to hydrate it, which reduces shock. It’s an awesome thought to amend your soil with compost to provide it an additional enhance from the start. Place your root ball within the gap and backfill, then water it totally.
For the primary three to 6 months, water it two to 3 instances per week. As soon as established, proceed to water weekly within the absence of rain for the subsequent two years. Making use of a layer of mulch across the base will assist maintain in moisture, which magnolias respect. Go away some area across the trunk to keep away from fungus and pest infestation.
Rising From Seed
Though it’s not the favored technique of propagation, you possibly can develop star magnolia bushes from seeds. They germinate effectively so long as you comply with the right steps:
1. Harvest seeds out of your chosen plant within the fall once they mature, and extract them from the seed pod.
2. These seeds require a interval of chilly, so both plant them within the fall or stratify them indoors over the winter. Place them in a container of moist sand and put them within the fridge for 2 to 3 months.
3. Soaking the seeds isn’t crucial for those who’ve stratified them, however it is not going to hurt them.
4. Sow the seeds in a pot or straight within the floor. Rising them initially in a container provides you extra management, so I like to recommend this technique. Place them about 1/4 inch deep.
5. Place your container in a spot with brilliant however oblique gentle. Hold the soil moist, however don’t permit it to develop into soggy.
6. Transplant to a bigger pot as wanted, and preserve it within the container till the next winter, when you possibly can plant it within the floor.
Methods to Develop
Initially, your star magnolia will want some consideration to ascertain these roots. As soon as that occurs, this low-maintenance plant will carry years of enjoyment with little or no effort.
Gentle
Full solar is the overall publicity requirement for this species and different Japanese magnolias. They develop and flower greatest with six to eight hours of solar each day.
The exception to that is within the southern reaches of their vary, the place summers could be intensely scorching. In these areas, a little bit of shade within the afternoon will reserve it from foliage burn.
Water
As I discussed above, your newly planted tree will want common watering. Water each different to each third day for the primary three to 6 months. Think about rainfall, as you don’t wish to find yourself with swampy soil, which may result in root rot.
For the primary two years after that, be certain it will get water as soon as weekly. If that comes within the type of rain, you don’t have to provide further water. While you water, water deeply, permitting it to soak the bottom and assist the roots transfer deeper.
As soon as established, these are fairly drought-tolerant. I’ve an eight-year-old tree that requires little to no consideration for 11 months out of the yr.
Soil
They’re versatile by way of soil composition. Heavy clay soil might current an issue, however it’s nothing that amending with some compost and sand can’t treatment. Take a look at your soil’s pH earlier than planting, as alkaline soil gained’t help this tree effectively.
The best soil to your star magnolia tree is nutrient-rich, barely acidic, and a mixture of sand, clay, and loam. Loosen compacted soil to assist with root improvement. They don’t seem to be salt-tolerant, in order that they don’t develop as effectively in coastal areas, sadly.
Temperature and Humidity
Star magnolia bushes are tolerant of a variety of climates and temperatures. They’re cold-hardy all the way down to -30°F (-34°C) and likewise simply deal with temperatures as much as 95°F (35°C). I’ve seen points with leaves drying and falling after we expertise an prolonged warmth wave, however they often rebound because the climate returns to regular. Giving some additional water throughout these instances will assist.
They tolerate humidity effectively, though they don’t want an distinctive quantity. They’re happiest in a spread of 30-50% humidity. In case you’re rising this indoors as a houseplant, a bit extra humidity is good, someplace within the vary of 40-60%.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing isn’t crucial so long as the soil is acidic and wealthy in natural matter. High dressing with compost and mulch within the fall will assist preserve the soil unfastened, wealthy, and barely acidic. If the soil is simply too alkaline, you’ll must fertilize extra typically.
If the soil is in a really perfect state, you possibly can fertilize as soon as within the winter earlier than the plant flowers. Use both a balanced components of 10-10-10 or one for blooming bushes with greater ranges of phosphorus and potassium.
Upkeep
These are low-maintenance bushes as soon as established. They’re self-cleaning, in order that they don’t require deadheading. Additionally they require little further water and fertilizer after the primary two years. Japanese magnolias don’t require yearly pruning, and in reality, you need to keep away from pruning if attainable.
These bushes develop in a naturally balanced and engaging form. An excessive amount of pruning will disrupt this form and might result in water spouts and different oddly formed and positioned branches.
Whereas younger, you possibly can prune off the decrease branches if you’d like extra of a tree form. For a shrubbier plant, don’t fear about pruning except you see lifeless or diseased branches and foliage. If it’s good to take away crossing branches or water spouts, accomplish that proper after it finishes blooming.
Propagation
Star magnolias are mostly propagated within the spring, with stem cuttings. While you develop them from seeds, the germination charge is unpredictable, and also you’re unlikely to see flowers for fairly some years. These propagated from cuttings can flower in as few as two years. You too can propagate by layering, which achieves an identical timeline to propagation from cuttings.
To take cuttings, you’ll want a clear, sharp pair of loppers of hand shears, a medium-sized nursery pot, some wealthy potting soil, a jar of water, and rooting hormone.
1. Choose a department of soppy or semi-hardwood that appears like it can develop right into a properly formed tree. The department’s form will decide the general form of the mature tree, so select correctly.
2. Take six- to eight-inch cuttings, slicing by way of the department at a diagonal simply above an outward-facing bud. This ensures that the department will develop a brand new department dealing with outward. Place your cuttings into the jar of water instantly.
3. Put together your cuttings by eradicating all however the topmost leaves. On the backside finish of the department, make a two-inch slice vertically up the center.
4. Dip the reduce finish of the stem in rooting hormone and plant in containers with moist potting combine. You’ll be able to add some perlite to enhance drainage and assist keep away from root rot.
5. Place your potted cuttings in a heat area with brilliant however oblique daylight. A plastic bag or clear plastic cowl can create a small greenhouse over your tiny bushes.
6. Hold your soil moist and infrequently mist contained in the plastic protecting to maintain the humidity excessive.
You’ll be able to even snip these in late winter to drive your blooms indoors. They make a beautiful pre-spring show when positioned in a vase or engaging container.
In style Varieties
‘Centennial’
‘Centennial’ is a mid-sized star magnolia with a beautiful blooming behavior. The flowers are bountiful and huge for the species, at simply over 5 inches throughout. They’re filled with petals, as much as 33 per bloom, that are white with a pink stripe beneath that creates a pink tint within the middle.
The flowers open to disclose a small cluster of cream-colored stamens. They’re reasonably aromatic. This cultivar has gained the Award of Backyard Benefit from the Royal Horticultural Society and the Gold Medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
‘Gold Star’
‘Gold Star’ is without doubt one of the cultivars with flowers that lean extra within the yellow course. It’s a medium to giant selection with medium-sized (4-inch) flowers with about 12 petals and a inexperienced and yellow middle. It’s additionally an Award of Backyard Benefit winner.
‘Jane Platt’
‘Jane Platt’ is without doubt one of the most eye-catching varieties, because it has extremely flamboyant flowers. The blooms are medium-sized however develop in terminal clusters for additional impact. The petals are pale pink with a darker pink stripe beneath, and there are tons of them! It’s no marvel that is one other winner of the RHS Award of Backyard Benefit.
Frequent Issues
These aren’t high-maintenance bushes, however a number of pests and some illnesses can have an effect on them. The easiest way to forestall in depth injury is to control them and spot points as early as attainable.
Pests
A very powerful pest to look out for is magnolia scale. They’re the largest-scale bugs, and that is their most well-liked meals. The younger will love about below leaves, whereas the adults are stationary and often discovered on twigs the place they connect and suck sap. They’ll trigger black sooty mildew, which grows of their sticky excrement and interferes with photosynthesis.
Aphids, spider mites, and beetles can all crop up on this tree, however they’re much less frequent. Neem oil is an effective technique to do away with these. Scales are typically troublesome as they latch on fairly tightly, so horticultural and neem oils assist to interrupt down their outer shell. Wait till there aren’t any flowers to deal with, as these therapies can hurt pollinators.
Illnesses
Fungal illnesses are the commonest problem on this class. Leaf spot, verticillium wilt, canker, blight, honey fungus, and root rot are all attainable foes. Most of those are the product of improper and overwatering. Water on the floor degree to maintain moisture from sitting on the leaves. Don’t let the soil develop into waterlogged, as this may trigger root rot.
Regularly Requested Questions
These bushes thrive in related environments to camellias, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and different acid-loving vegetation.
Sure, all magnolias are thought of secure for pets.
Shield the roots with a thick layer of mulch. These are fairly chilly hardy.