Magnolias for small gardens

Of all the hardy flowering trees and shrubs, magnolias, with their large waxy blooms, are perhaps the most spectacular. But as gardens get ever smaller, many of us struggle to fit these delightful plants into our plots. Drive down any suburban street in the UK and the chances are you’ll see a Magnolia × soulangeana hacked into an unhappy blob, displaying none of its natural grace and form.

Luckily, there are a number of varieties that can be accommodated into small gardens, with flowering times over the year. Plus, many in this selection are among the least fussy of the magnolias, growing well in gardens from the north to the south.

Spring surprise

Waterlily-like flowers burst from buds from as early as March on leafless trees

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months.

deciduous

Star performer

The tidy growth habit of Magnolia stellata makes it a suitable garden specimen

Delightfully scented

The pink-blushed flowers of Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ can be appreciated at nose-height

Grandeur on a small scale

Evergreen magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) have a timeless charm

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.

buds

Dark beauty

The long blooming period of Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ makes it a useful garden plant

• See beautiful magnolia drawings in the RHS Digital Collections