Magnolias are among the most glamorous and aristocratic of spring flowers, coming in a wide range of colours and sizes to suit every garden. It’s the early-flowering species and cultivars – those that bloom before their leaves emerge – that are the real harbingers of spring and give such glorious impact as our gardens awaken from their winter slumber.
In the wild, magnolias are woodland plants, often Transferring young plants from one container to a slightly larger one, where they will have more room to grow and fresh potting compost. This encourages continuous, healthy growth.
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.
In large gardens, magnolias can be grown among trees and shrubs – a perfect scenario where they have a rich leaf-litter layer at their feet and critically, shelter from the wind. It’s possible to simulate these conditions for more isolated specimens by Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.
Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.
Choose a magnolia whose size is appropriate for your garden and bear in mind that it’s best to only carry out formative pruning (shaping of the plant when young), as severe cutting back can ruin the form of plants once established. Pests and diseases are few, though slugs can cause damage to young plants. For rabbits and hares the Bark is the outermost layer of woody plants (trees, shrubs and woody climbers). It is several cells thick and provides protection against physical damage, disease and environmental stresses. Bark comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and these can help gardeners when identifying plants. The fissures and crevices of bark on older plants also creates valuable habitat for many garden creatures as well as lichens and small plants.
In a mild winter, 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.
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.
Magnolias make perfect planting partners for other spring-interest shrubs, such as camellias, maples and dogwoods. An added, oft-forgotten bonus, is scent – many are exquisitely fragrant. Breeding continues and the colour range is expanding, with an increasing number of yellows, including wonderful M. ‘Lois’ agm, M. ‘Yellow Lantern’ agm and M. ‘Elizabeth’ agm, or even blue-tinted, as in the exciting M. acuminata ‘Blue Opal’. Plant one today and you’ll get many years of enjoyment.
Where to see magnolias:
