How to Grow and Care for Southern Magnolia Trees

Magnolia grandiflora

Some bushes are grand and others have putting floral shows, however solely a handful, just like the southern magnolia, can do each.

Southern magnolias produce enormous, putting flowers, and never only a few of them, however an abundance! The blooms seem within the spring and generally once more in the summertime.

Plus, these magnolias are evergreen, which suggests you don’t should stare at naked branches in the course of the winter.

On prime of that, southern magnolias are usually pest- and disease-free, develop to majestic heights – although you will discover shorter cultivars – they usually don’t want a lot upkeep to take care of all this grandeur.

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The southern magnolia is the state tree of Mississippi, generally known as the bull-bay, big-laurel, large-flower, or evergreen magnolia, and could be cultivated in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 10.

As a number of the frequent names point out, the leaves look considerably laurel-like, however they’re a lot, a lot bigger and sometimes have engaging bronze-colored undersides.

You’re most likely already accustomed to this North American native in case you stay within the South, however the bushes can develop in a wide range of climates exterior of their native vary.

They’re even widespread in areas with utterly totally different climates to the humid warmth of the south, like England and the Pacific Northwest.

I’ve a tulip poplar that I’m itching to tear out, and once I do, a southern magnolia goes as a replacement.

I can’t wait to benefit from the year-round shade and big, waxy, aromatic flowers. Till then, I’ll proceed to marvel on the many specimens rising in my neighborhood.

Do you fancy certainly one of your personal, too? We’re going to assist make that occur by discussing the next:

Cultivation and Historical past

The southern magnolia is assessed within the Magnolia genus, which includes about 240 species.

It’s native to North America, the place it grows within the southeastern United States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.

It favors coastal plains, upland, and lowland areas, and doesn’t develop above 500 ft in elevation within the wild, however is seen in cultivation at greater altitudes.

It grows in areas that obtain a minimum of 40 to 80 inches of rain per yr with temperatures between 15 and 90°F, in heat temperate or semi-tropical climates.

The species is the one evergreen within the Magnolia genus, and usually grows to about 80 ft tall, although some specimens have achieved a lot higher heights.

There are just a few in Florida measuring over 125 ft tall. In cooler climates, they have an inclination to remain a lot shorter.

Southern magnolias are typically reasonably quick rising, including as much as 18 inches of peak every year, and require as much as 50 years to succeed in their mature peak.

They may begin fruiting and flowering a lot sooner, producing flowers when they’re simply three years outdated and sometimes fruits seem when they’re 10 years outdated. The bushes can stay as much as 120 years.

Most have a pyramidal development behavior, however there are some cultivars with oval, spherical, or columnar shapes. The bark is easy and grey, although older specimens tackle a scaly texture.

The easy, alternate leaves are elliptic or oval formed with stable (complete) margins.

The leaves are sometimes medium inexperienced and shiny on prime, and brown or rust-colored and matte with a faint fuzz beneath. They’ll attain as much as eight inches lengthy. The foliage doesn’t change within the fall. Keep in mind, that is an evergreen.

After which there are the flowers. The large, showy, saucer-shaped blossoms could be as much as 14 inches throughout and are creamy-white with a waxy coating and an intense lemon perfume. After they’re blooming, the entire yard might be perfumed.

These blossoms seem within the spring and should generally reappear in the summertime in smaller numbers.

After the flowers fade, small fuzzy brown fruit cones develop.

At maturity they’re about 5 inches lengthy and lined in vibrant crimson drupes, which the birds love. So do squirrels and different herbivores, particularly after they fall to the bottom.

Southern magnolias are cultivated across the globe and are widespread within the UK, the place they have been launched within the early 1730s.

It’s typically confused with the sweetbay magnolia (M. virginiana), however sweetbays are smaller in each means, from the leaves and flowers to the peak and trunk circumference.

Southern Magnolia Propagation

Southern magnolias are one of many best species within the genus to propagate.

These bushes could be grown from seed. Nonetheless, the ensuing tree could possibly be very totally different from the father or mother by way of measurement, form, development charge, and flowering, until you’ve managed to safe seeds from a species tree and never a cultivar.

If rising magnolia from seed is one thing you’re excited about, our information has all the main points. M. grandiflora is extraordinarily simple to propagate by seed, so it’s a wonderful choice in case you’re contemplating this technique.

From Cuttings

In contrast to ranging from seed, propagation by way of cuttings will provide you with a precise clone of the father or mother plant.

Wait till the spring, when new development has began creating on the finish of the stems, and take an eight-inch slicing utilizing clear, sharp trimmers. Make the lower at a 45-degree angle.

Take away all the leaves aside from the highest two. Minimize these in half vertically to scale back the quantity of tissue the slicing has to help.

Fill a gallon-sized container with seed beginning medium and poke a gap within the heart.

Dip the tip of the slicing in powdered rooting hormone and set the slicing into the opening you made. The slicing needs to be about two inches deep.

Soak the medium so it feels moist however not soaking moist, like a well-wrung-out sponge, and place the pot outdoor in an space with dappled or partial daylight.

Hold the soil moist because the slicing develops roots, which might take a month or extra. Finally, you’ll begin to see new foliar development develop.

As long as the climate isn’t too sizzling and dry, while you see the brand new development you possibly can put the plant within the floor. Nonetheless, I’d advocate protecting the plant within the container till the next spring or the next fall.

It’s finest to transplant earlier than the brand new specimen reaches 4 ft tall. A peak between two and 4 ft is good.

Transplanting

It’s finest to transplant southern magnolia saplings within the spring fairly than the autumn. Many bushes do effectively when planted within the fall, however magnolias, generally, do higher within the spring.

That mentioned, if fall works higher for you, they’ll most likely be simply nice. Southern magnolias are adaptable.

Younger southern magnolias have lengthy taproots, so watch out to not disturb or break the foundation. Because the tree ages, the roots turn out to be extra in depth with plenty of lateral development, fairly than counting on the taproot.

These bushes are susceptible to girdling, which is when the roots develop in a circle across the trunk, both at or under the soil line. This could act like a step by step tightening noose across the trunk, strangling the plant.

To assist keep away from this, watch out to unfold out the roots while you transplant.

The roots develop extraordinarily vast, so don’t place the magnolia too near issues like constructing foundations or a septic system.

Assume that the roots will develop 4 instances as vast as the cover width at maturity. Crops needs to be 40 ft aside, not simply to accommodate the roots, however as a result of the cover can develop that vast.

Choose your location fastidiously as a result of these vast roots make it troublesome to transplant the tree if that you must transfer it in a while.

When you’ve chosen your location, dig a gap massive sufficient to accommodate the foundation system of your sapling.

Place the plant solely so deep that you would be able to see the start of the foundation flare, which ought to put the underside of the trunk about two inches above the encircling soil line.

Then, backfill with soil. Heap three inches of bark or leaf mulch over the soil, however maintain it away from the trunk.

For those who place the plant too deep within the soil, the roots will need to develop upwards and outwards fairly than down.

For the primary 4 years after planting, the magnolia might be establishing its root system, so maintain the soil moist however not moist.

The mulch will assist retain moisture and cut back weed competitors. If any weeds do handle to poke via, pull them up promptly.

Develop Southern Magnolias

Southern magnolias thrive in full solar to partial shade. After they’re younger, they will tolerate almost full shade, however as they mature, they want brighter solar.

Fortunately, they have an inclination to care for that themselves by rising tall sufficient to flee the shade forged by shorter bushes and shrubs. If younger specimens are grown in shadier circumstances, they could mature to have a shrubbier form.

They like loamy, peaty soil, however a little bit of clay or sand is ok, as effectively. The soil could be barely alkaline, impartial, or acidic, however the ideally suited pH is barely acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

The soil needs to be well-draining however in a position to retain moisture as southern magnolias want constant moisture to develop finest.

These bushes can tolerate a little bit of short-term drought, however in case you stay in a sizzling area with dry summers, it’s most likely finest to place your younger magnolia in partial shade and heap plenty of mulch on prime of the roots to assist the soil keep cool and retain moisture.

They may also tolerate short-term moist soil within the case of seasonal flooding, however don’t let it sit round too lengthy, or it’ll trigger root rot.

As soon as established, you received’t want so as to add any moisture until you have got an abnormally extended drought. The exception is in case you stay in a desert local weather, the tree would require irrigation. The soil needs to be watered as soon as it’s absolutely dry.

Be cautious when working across the base of the tree. The bark is skinny, so in case you nick it with a shovel, trimmer, or cultivator, you may make the tree weak to pests and illnesses.

Fertilize with an all-purpose meals every year within the spring for the primary 5 years. After that, the tree ought to be capable of acquire the vitamins it wants from the soil.

All the way down to Earth All Objective Meals

One thing like All the way down to Earth’s All Objective meals is ideal. Choose up a pound, 5 kilos, or 15 kilos at Arbico Organics. Comply with the producer’s directions for software.

Rising Ideas

• Plant in a fan of full solar.
• Apply mulch across the base to assist retain moisture.
• Present even moisture for younger specimens for the primary 4 years.

Pruning and Upkeep

The decrease branches of southern magnolias are inclined to bend to the purpose the place they will intrude on visitors and even contact the bottom. Prune these off on the trunk.

You must also take away any branches which have a good crotch, which suggests two branches are rising shut collectively at their bases. These are weak and have a tendency to interrupt. Take away the smaller of the 2.

Pruning is finest accomplished in late winter or very early spring earlier than the buds begin to swell. Make sure that the air temperature has been above 35°F for the previous days so keep away from pruning frozen wooden.

In any other case, there isn’t any additional work required. Southern magnolias are really low-maintenance.

The largest problem might be leaf clean-up. Every leaf lives about two years after which it drops from the tree. Since each could be eight inches lengthy, it solely takes just a few to create an enormous mess.

And one way or the other, they will journey. My neighbor’s southern magnolia usually sends leaves into my yard. That may not appear shocking, however this neighbor occurs to be two homes away from me!

Southern Magnolia Cultivars to Choose

Southern magnolias are stunning bushes, and plant breeders have developed quite a lot of totally different cultivars.

Southern Magnolia

If you wish to develop the species tree, you possibly can choose one up at Nature Hills Nursery.

Right here’s a collection of some standout cultivars:

Bracken’s Brown Magnificence

‘Bracken’s Brown Magnificence’ is a mouthful to say and a marvel to develop as a result of it could possibly survive in climates a lot colder than the species or most different cultivars.

It’s powerful sufficient to outlive as far north as Zone 5, although it would drop its leaves in colder areas in the course of the winter.

It additionally stays compact, rising to only 30 to 50 ft or so tall, and is extensively considered being the fastest-growing southern magnolia on the market, placing on two ft of development per yr.

‘Bracken’s Brown Magnificence’

It has a dense, pyramid form with a textured look because of the massive, leathery inexperienced leaves with distinctly brown undersides.

Nature Hills carries this widespread tree in #2, #3, and #7 containers.

D.D. Blanchard

‘D.D. Blanchard’ has huge eight-inch blossoms, however what units it other than the species tree is the foliage.

The leaves are massive, deep, and darkish inexperienced, which is uncommon for the species, with a rusty brown hue on the underside. It holds its leaves upright so you possibly can plainly see the contrasting undersides.

‘D.D. Blanchard’

The bushes attain about 50 ft in peak with a pyramidal, open form and a robust central chief.

Seize yours from Nature Hills Nursery in #3 and #7 containers.

Edith Bogue

Lovely ‘Edith Bogue’ is hardy right down to Zone 5. Although the tree may drop a few of its leaves within the winter, it’ll survive with none fuss or additional care.

The large blossoms are the dimensions of dinner plates at a foot in diameter, on a tree that may develop as much as 60 ft tall.

It’s pretty slim, nonetheless, reaching simply 30 ft vast, so it could possibly match into a comparatively small space.

‘Edith Bogue’

For those who’d like to ask ‘Edith Bogue’ to your backyard, go to Quick Rising Bushes to convey residence a three- to four- or four- to five-foot-tall tree.

Goliath

Aptly named, ‘Goliath’ sports activities big, 12-inch-wide flowers, that persist on the tree for a protracted, very long time.

The tree has a dense, rounded development behavior made up of inexperienced leaves with reddish-brown undersides.

This cultivar doesn’t stay as much as its moniker with regards to peak, although. It’s on the smaller facet, rising to about 50 ft tall. It’s fast to begin flowering.

Kay Parris

A possible cross between ‘Little Gem’ and ‘Bracken’s Brown Magnificence,’ the magnificent ‘Kay Parris’ was launched by Gilbert’s Nursery in South Carolina within the early Nineteen Nineties.

It was named for Katherine Killingsworth Parris, the mom of Kevin Parris at Gilbert’s Nursery.

Famous magnolia consultants declared the younger plant to be destined to be one of many prime magnolias. This has confirmed to be true, and the cultivar could be present in gardens throughout the globe.

It additionally obtained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Advantage.

‘Kay Parris’

It produces an abundance of ten-inch blossoms on a 20-foot tree that has a dense, pyramidal form. In contrast to different cultivars, it’ll reliably produce snow-white blossoms all through the summer season.

For those who’re in search of a southern magnolia, you possibly can’t go amiss with this one. Choose one up at Nature Hills Nursery.

Inexperienced Large

The “big” in ‘Inexperienced Large’ refers back to the completely huge leaves, that are eight inches or extra in size.

They’re pure inexperienced on the highest and rusty on the undersides and emerge from the tree as golden yellow.

The flowers are ten inches in diameter on a tree that grows to about 60 ft tall.

‘Inexperienced Large’

This tree isn’t for these in cooler climates. It’s solely hardy in Zones 7 to10. However in case you stay in certainly one of these Zones, the pyramidal form, shiny foliage, and big flowers are a deal with.

You may choose one up at Nature Hills Nursery.

Little Gem

If the considered a grand magnolia appeals to you, however you don’t have that a lot room to spare in your backyard, take into account ‘Little Gem.’ It’s a dwarf cultivar that solely reaches as much as 20 ft tall.

This little magnificence was delivered to us from the minds at Monrovia Nursery and has a compact, pyramidal form that works effectively as a specimen, windbreak, or display.

‘Little Gem’

As a result of it has a slim development behavior, you possibly can thoughtfully develop different species round it with out completely shading them out.

You will discover ‘Little Gem’ obtainable at Quick Rising Bushes.

Managing Pests and Illness

Squirrels love the flower buds, and birds eat the berries, however herbivores aren’t in any other case on this tree. Thank goodness. You don’t have to fret about deer gnawing it right down to a nub.

Bugs

As talked about, this tree is comparatively immune to pests and illnesses. There are only a few bugs that may be an issue.

Borers

Magnolia borers (Euzophera magnolialis), root collar borers (E. ostricolorella), and black twig borers (Xylosandrus compactus) all goal magnolias, notably bushes which might be burdened by drought or soggy soil.

Magnolia borers feed solely on southern magnolias and are solely discovered within the South.

The primary two borers talked about are brown moths and the black twig borer is a beetle, but it surely’s not the adults that you need to fear about. It’s the larvae that trigger issues.

The larvae tunnel into the twigs and branches, producing cankers, frass, and spherical entrance or exit holes. Because the tree suffers, it takes on a usually unwell look.

All three are opportunistic and sometimes assault bushes which might be already burdened or sick. For those who remedy the unique downside, they are going to typically head to greener (erm, browner?) pastures.

Nonetheless, black twig borers can introduce Fusarium solani, a nasty an infection which causes twig demise and might even kill small bushes.

Prune infested twigs and spray your tree usually with a product containing Bacillus thuringiensis v. kurstaki (Btk) beginning as quickly as you discover signs or after the final predicted frost date. Repeat each week via the summer season.

Bonide Thuricide

You may choose up Bonide’s Thuricide, which comprises Btk, at locations like Arbico Organics. They’ve quart or gallon ready-to-use or eight or 16-ounce focus.

Scale

Magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum) is a soft-scaled insect that doesn’t hand around in one spot like your typical scale species.

It’s extremely cell, crawling up and down the tree in search of the most effective spots to feed on the sap utilizing their sucking mouthparts.

They’re additionally one of many largest kinds of scale bugs in North America at half an inch in size. They’ve a protecting waxy coating over their pinkish-brown our bodies.

As you possibly can think about, given their measurement, a big infestation of those bugs could cause severe injury. They’ll weaken a tree sufficient to kill it.

Plus the honeydew they secrete attracts sooty mildew and makes an unholy mess beneath the tree. Woe be to anybody who parks their automotive beneath a magnolia infested with scale – I say this from expertise.

The excellent news is that southern magnolias aren’t their most well-liked supply. They’ll usually shoot for star (M. stellata) and cucumber magnolias (M. acuminata) first.

Pure predators ought to maintain scale populations in test, however in case you spray pesticides in your backyard, it’s seemingly that populations of predators like girl beetles and lacewings have been decreased.

In that case, cease spraying, in case you can, and introduce these useful bugs into your backyard.

Ladybugs are struggling as a consequence of their recognition for releasing into the backyard and wild populations are beneath risk.

That’s why it’s important that you simply strive your finest to make your backyard a spot the place they will thrive.

Which means limiting pesticide use, rising a wide range of species however particularly natives, and planting species that they love, like alyssum.

You too can buy bugs like lacewings to launch into your backyard.

Inexperienced Lacewing

On this case, you can begin with the larvae or buy adults, which Arbico Organics carries in 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 counts.

You may be taught extra about methods to cope with scale in our information.

Illness

If I might wave my magic wand and eliminate one plant illness, it will most likely be verticillium wilt.

This illness assaults many, many species and might kill an enormous, mature tree or beloved shrub that has been round for many years in only one season. Plus, there is no such thing as a remedy. Sadly, southern magnolias are inclined.

Leaf scorch, heavy seeding, and department demise are all frequent indicators. For those who lower off a department and strip the bark, you possibly can see brown streaks or brown sapwood.

In case your tree is contaminated, there’s nothing you are able to do however take away it. And, as a result of the pathogen lives within the soil for years, you possibly can’t plant something there that’s inclined to the illness for a minimum of ten years.

Ginkgo, juniper, spruce, pine, sequoia, birch, dogwood, hawthorn, fig, mulberry, oak, and willow bushes are all resistant choices.

Be taught extra about frequent illnesses that have an effect on magnolias in our information.

Finest Makes use of for Southern Magnolias

As a shade tree, there are few rivals. The southern magnolia works in residence gardens, business areas, and parks.

Simply remember that nothing however full shade lovers will develop beneath them. Don’t plan to have a pleasant garden space beneath your tree.

Hostas (Hosta spp.), English ivy (Hedera helix), ferns, barrenwort (Epimedium spp.), deadnettle (Lamium spp.), candy woodruff (Galium odoratum), and vinca (Vinca major) are going to be your finest pals.

The bushes could be planted streetside since they tolerate air pollution, although they are going to most likely require pruning to maintain these decrease branches from blocking visitors or parking areas.

For those who select one of many columnar cultivars, you need to use them as a display or a windbreak.

In addition they work effectively for espalier and smaller cultivars could be grown in containers.

Understand that the bushes frequently drop outdated leaves as new ones substitute them.

Which means there might be leaf litter beneath the tree fairly usually. You may not need to plant yours subsequent to a patio in case you don’t love to do common cleansing.

You may definitely lower the flowers and use them in preparations, however don’t overlook the foliage. It makes an exquisite addition to an association, and it’s obtainable all yr spherical.

Salt doesn’t faze these bushes, so coastal gardeners can take pleasure in their elegant efficiency.

They may tolerate areas with exhaust air pollution so you possibly can develop them in city or suburban areas. Simply keep in mind, they’ve in depth roots and might carry sidewalks or driveways.

In addition they survive hurricanes comparatively intact, with maybe some department loss, however they have an inclination to not topple over. Because of their year-round, dense foliage, as a shade tree, they may also help cut back the price of cooling your property.