Magnolia stellata
Not everyone has room for a large magnolia in the landscape painting . These impressive trees can be monolithic and take up a lot of space .
But if you lust the ravisher of the stocky leaves and gorgeous flowers without giving up one-half of your yard , consider develop the petite star magnolia ( Magnolia stellatasyn . M. kobus var . stellata . ) .
It may be small , but star magnolia put on a mighty flowered show with heaps of star - like blossoms and large , attractive parting .
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The showy pinkish - ashen blossoms open up up in the former spring before the foliage starts to go forth .
The flowers are n’t as big as those of some other magnolia , but they make up for it in sheer numbers .
It ’s not all about the blooms , though . In late wintertime or early spring , cute little pussy willow - similar fuzzy buds emerge on the offset .
These will eventually become the fragrant blossoms that have at least 12 minute tepals arranged like a starburst .
After the efflorescence disappearance , the bronze - green foliage emerges , turn deep green during the summer and then bright jaundiced in fall .
At the same prison term , the plant develops brilliant pinkish pods that originate into red fruits or seminal fluid cones .
It ’s a round-the-clock exhibit of interest and beauty in a fairly little bundle . I eff champion magnolias , in case you did n’t detect , and I ca n’t look to talk more about them . Here ’s what I ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to turn
Cultivars to Select
criminal maintenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Star magnolia can by and large thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 and can turn as either multi - stemmed trees or large bush , bet on how you prune them .
They can grow up to 20 foot grandiloquent and 15 invertebrate foot spacious , but different cultivars are available in dissimilar size .
The species plant life generally grow as a multi - caulescent bush that reaches about six feet improbable and 15 feet wide , but many cultivars grow taller but less wide .
If you select to prune your industrial plant into a single - stem tree , it will likely grow marvellous than the species .
unwashed name(s):Star magnolia , Japanese magnolia
plant life type : Deciduous tree diagram or shrub
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):4 - 9
aboriginal to : Japan
rosiness time / season : bounce
Exposure : Full to fond sun
Soil type : Loose , fat
grunge pH:5.5 - 7.0 , slightly acidic to neutral
Time to maturity:20 years from seed
Mature size:6 substructure by 15 feet
Best uses : Accent , specimen , moulding
Taxonomy
Order : Magnoliales
Family : Mangoliaceae
Genus : Magnolia
specie : Stellata
Very young star magnolia trees generally wo n’t flower , but they get on quickly and will bloom by the time they are two or three years old .
The “ petal ” on the flowers are technically know astepals , so you might see them called either one .
Originally from Japan , these trees have become pop around the globe because of their low maintenance tending needs and oversized display .
I do n’t urge planting star magnolia in a lawn because the shallow roots are sensitive and being close-fitting to the surface , are easy damage by mowers .
You should also plant south or Benjamin West of a building if you need to assay and protect the flowers from late - season frosts . A frost or freeze after the prime have open will kill them .
Light
wizard magnolia flower best in full sun , but they can grow in partial sunlight , as well .
you could even get aside with grow them in fond shade , but flowering will be reduced . If you could , prefer a smirch that receive six or more hours of direct sunshine every day .
Soil
The ideal grime is loose , rich , peaty , and slightly acidic with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 .
Star magnolias can adjust to soils that do n’t match this description , but dense clay or exceedingly alkalic soil wo n’t work .
If planted in these conditions , the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will worsen and eventually die .
you may alter soil pH , if necessary , though it takes yearly maintenance , but you ca n’t ready heavy Lucius Clay .
You ’d have to dig down ten feet deep and full , or more , to remediate the soil and even then you ’d still go the unceasing risk of root bunk .
Water
Star magnolia favor consistently dampish stain . They will tolerate some periodic waterlessness , but keeping the stain evenly moist at all times is idealistic .
I wish well I could tell you that you could uphold this moisture level by adding an inch of piss each week , or whatever , but it ’s not that easy .
Every garden has dissimilar soil and a different mood , and that touch on how much and how often you should water .
Your ground might run out more quickly than average or mayhap you are bear warm , dry weather , both of which increases how often you need to water .
Or , you might have regular rain and lento drain soil , which means you do n’t require to irrigate much , if at all .
envision when and how much to water system is n’t too hard . All you need is a paw or amoisture meter .
Stick either one into the soil and if it finger like a well - wrung - out parasite or register as moist , you ’re good to go . If it find wetter , do n’t urine . If it feels drier , pull up out the hose .
When you do water , make certain you are doing so at the soil storey and not on the leaf . systematically wet foliation can invite fungal job .
Temperature
Watch out , because a previous rime can kill the flowers after they open up , though the bud are usually safe .
The good news is that since the star magnolia plants are fairly small , you may track them with a frost mantle to provide protection from any surprise freeze .
If a late icing is in the forecast , drumhead outside and curtain frost fabric or a lightweight cover over the tree diagram and the flowers will live to see another day .
Fertilizing
Good news ! You do n’t want to fertilize your ace magnolia .
These plants acquire in boggy , run through area and so long as they have wet , they ’re totally all right without extra feeding .
The species is resplendent , and it ’s somewhat hard to improve on perfection , but there are several star magnolia cross and cultivars on the market that manage to do just that .
Whether they have improved flower colouration or size , or a nicer shape , these are deserving a look .
Assume that they are worthy for polish in Zones 5 to 9 unless stated otherwise .
Centennial
‘ centenary ’ is so exceptional that it was given the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2012 .
The white or pink - distort flowers are bombastic for the species at over five inch in diameter on a shrub or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that grows to height of about 15 feet , though you could train a cardinal loss leader and it will reach up to 25 feet marvelous .
No doubt its vigorous increment and fertile florescence , combined with its big flowers and goodly shape facilitate it pull in extra awards , like the gold medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society .
‘ Centennial ’ found its fashion into the humanity after it was bred to celebrate the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard and its centenary , which occur in 1972 .
Chrysanthemumiflora
Yes , the name is a mouthful . But ‘ Chrysanthemumiflora ’ should be eminent up on your inclination of options , even if it ’s misspelled – and it often is .
This cultivar was selectively bred by respected nurseryman Koichiro Wada in Japan and it ’s one of my pet , by far .
The blossom have 40 or more flower petal , so they are super full . They do , indeed , calculate like chrysanthemum .
They also get down out as sour pink bud and then open up to pale pink flowers , and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is absolutely overcompensate from top to bottom in the blossoms .
As if that was n’t enough , it ’s extremely cold tolerant and thrives even in Zone 4 . Plus , it stay a perfect size for any garden at 15 foot tall and wide .
Gold Star
‘ Gold Star ’ is a winner . Literally . It took home the coveted Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit in 2012 .
It ’s reasonably sized at just 25 understructure marvellous and 20 feet broad at most , but the impact is huge when the tree is utterly covered in four - column inch creamy yellow blossoms that each have a dozen petal or more .
It ’s vigorous , blooms reliably , and is adaptable .
Jane Platt
Jane Platt was an devouring nurseryman who was the girl of an exporter who often had unusual plant life brought back from faraway locales on the ships that his fellowship used .
She gained an appreciation for especial plants , particularlyrhododendrons , and create garden in the Pacific Northwest that draw visitors to this day .
The magnolia named in her purity was found in her garden and stabilized to be unloose on the market .
Now you could determine this diminutive tree diagram , which grows about 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide , in lots of greenhouse and home garden .
The heyday are bright pinkish , even enceinte and brighter than those on ‘ Chrysanthemumiflora . ’ It picked up the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit in 2012 .
Pink Stardust
The fragrant , pinkie bloom of ‘ Pink Stardust ’ cover the leafless tree like a pastel mantle .
Each pale pink blossom can be up to five column inch in diam with dozens of tepal on a shrubby star magnolia that grows about 10 feet tall and wide .
Rosea
“ Rosea ” is used as a terminal figure to describe many of the different pink - flowered whiz magnolias . They first arrived in the US after a tree was imported to an Oakland , California nursery in 1885 .
Now , many clones from the original form are available on the market . Many have unique names , but some just fall under the formRosea .
Since there can be some variation among this radical , expect a works that is similar in size and shape to the metal money but with pinkish blossoms that can range from a hint of flush to abstruse , blushful pink .
Most raise to about 12 feet magniloquent and wide-cut .
Royal Star
When this champion magnolia shrub is covered in its four - inch , ashen to blench pinkish blossoms , it ’s an exciting video display .
Plus , the tree is tough and can flourish as far north as geographical zone 4 . It nail the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit in 2012 .
‘ Royal Star ’
When ripe , ‘ Royal Star ’ get hold of about 15 feet improbable and 12 foot wide .
you may find ‘ Royal Star’available from Fast Growing Treesin a variety of sizes .
Rubra
The flowers on ‘ Rubra ’ bug out as purplish - pinkish buds before open into pink blooms . The leaves are a beautiful yellowy - immature color that stand out from other types of wizard magnolias .
This compendious cultivar grow to about 10 metrical foot tall and wide .
Waterlily
Hardy in Zones 4 to 8 , ‘ Waterlily ’ blooms with white peak that pop unfastened in the bounce a few weeks afterwards than the species plant .
That ’s ideal if you tend to have surprise late frosts that might kill other blooms . Plus , the flowers are larger than the mintage and have up to 36 arcing tepal . The leaves are dark gullible .
The tree diagram can grow to 20 feet improbable and 15 feet full , but most stay about half that size .
Pruning and Maintenance
new woody growth is placid and red - brown , and as it age , it becomes silvery white-haired .
Along with its densely twiglike drug abuse , it can be an attractive accent in the winter garden , but it will look best if you prune it .
To be clear , the bush doesn’trequirepruning . But if you desire to make winter interest or keep a tree - like shape , you ’re going to need to do a little trim .
Pruning should be done right after the plant has finished flowering . If you wait much longer , you execute the danger of pruning off the growth that will produce the efflorescence in the next year .
Use cautiousness while working around the tree , because they have shallow roots and they ’re easily disturbed .
When you dress in the outflow , trim the leg back to the main growing theme or nearest branch , cutting the bump off section flush . You do n’t need to pass on a little stump behind .
If you want to preserve a single trunk , place the largest , healthiest option and leave it .
Cut any lowly branches down to the ground . You ’ll call for to keep doing this as the shrub sends up young growth .
There are lots of effective ways to propagate magnolias . you’re able to grok up mark , take shank cutting , sow seeds , or transplantation nursery start .
Ourguide to get magnoliascovers a variety of propagation method acting .
You ca n’t arise hybrid from seed , as they will not bring forth true to the parent plant life . If you wish to start the mintage from seed , check outour usher to distribute magnolias from seedto learn the steps .
Managing Pests and Disease
The first thing you want to do is protect young plant fromdeer , rabbits , and other hungry herbivores .
Keep young plants safe with a fence . After the tree grow a bit , they ’re better able to resist a piddling alimentation .
When it comes to insects , aphids , weighing machine , and tulip poplar weevil ( Odontopus calceatus ) are pretty much the only pests you ’ll see . While the first two are vulgar , the third is less common but more problematic .
Tulip poplar weevil endure in the eastern half of North America . The larvae hatching in the spring and feed on developing leaves and bud , make weak , stunt , and distorted growth .
There are set of room to handle with weevils , including introducingbeneficial predators , or using mathematical product that hold the good fungi likeBeauveria bassiana .
When you mature wiz magnolias in the appropriate condition , diseases are rare .
Various leaf spots and verticillium wilt are the master unity and are more uncouth in plant that are crowded , in poor draining soil , or watered on the leaf .
teach about all the potential problems inour pathfinder to magnolia diseases .
The Star of the Show
When a star magnolia is in bloom , there ’s nothing else in the garden that can compete !
A freakin ’ sasquatch could walk by and no one would even notice because all eyes will be laser focused on the magnificent blooms .
But unlike some blossom flora , star magnolia is still attractive even when the bloom are become . The thick leaves , shiny seeded player cones , and beautiful young bark all add to the garden showing .
And for more information aboutgrowing magnolia in your landscape , moderate out these templet next :
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Kristine Lofgren
