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Magnolia trees, bushes and recommendations

Karenchilton2000Karenchilton2000 Posts: 23
in Plants
Hi

Is it correct to say that magnolia shrubs eventually turn into trees? Or are they cultivated to stay as shrubs, please?  I've looked at some places to buy online and some say they sell a 'Susan' shrub but also a 'tree' - just not sure if they are the same thing but at different stages of growth.

Also, does anybody have any recommendations for other magnolia trees. Ideally I'd go for something evergreen but not sure you can find many varieties with winter colour?  The longer the flowers are out, the better, I think.

Many thanks

Karen


Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    https://www.rhododendrons.co.uk/magnolias/c23 This is the website of  Millais Nursery which is a good source of info for these plants. They list the expected size after 10 year's growth. Size depends on age but buying mature specimens gets expensive very quickly.

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Some Magnolias are trees that can grow to huge size..eg Magnolia Campbellii.
    Some Magnolia are evergreen which start small and grow larger...eg Magnolia grandiflora.
    Others are shrubs which start very small and over time can grow larger and could be called large shrubs. eg Magnolia x loebneri.

    Some can flower as early as January, other later in the spring....others in summer.
    All are beautiful but none have flowers that last for a long time.
    Frost at the wrong time can ruin the flowers.

    Flowers can be white, pink, dark plum. or yellow.
    Some are very simple with just a few petals others are double with multiple petals.

    Cannot think of any that give winter colour.

    May I suggest you get a super book from Amazon.
    Magnolia by Graham Rankin...very cheap.
    Have a look at that ...then try to find one that you like.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnolia-Hamlyn-Manual-Graham-Rankin/dp/0600605345

    If you can see it ...my Magnolia pics are on flickr.

    https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=magnolia&view_all=1
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Karenchilton2000Karenchilton2000 Posts: 23
    I love those pick flowers @Silver Surfer .  Do you find Magnolia trees quite easy to keep down in size?  Also, I'm planning to mine on a front patio area (I'm currently digging up slabs). It's south facing but not quite as well sheltered as I would like, so when the winds are strong it might get a bit of a hard time. Do they generally cope with this?
  • Karenchilton2000Karenchilton2000 Posts: 23
    @steephill That's a handy site!  Funnily enough, when I typed in my requirements, it came back with the 'Susan' which is one of the ones I'd been looking at.  I've checked some photos out online and some show it with pale pink flowers and others with a deeper pink.  Do you know why this is, or how I can make sure I get the one I prefer, please?
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We bought a Magnolia stellata “Rosea” about 5 years ago.  It has only grown about a foot in height during that time.  It’s eventual height is supposed to only be 2 metres.  It’s one of the more compact varieties.  
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I think flower colour changes as it goes from bud to fully open, lightening as it goes. There may also be differences depending on growing conditions so it is impossible to say exactly which shade you will get but the general effect will be as shown on the Millais site.
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