Magnolia grandiflora

RHS Plant Profile
evergreen magnolia

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Magnolia grandiflora?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
evergreen magnolia RHS
evergreen magnolia RHS 2002
evergreen magnolia visionspictures.com
evergreen magnolia visionspictures.com

Other common names

bull bay, bullbay, great laurel-leaved magnolia, large-flowered magnolia, laurel magnolia, loblolly magnolia, southern magnolia

Synonyms

Magnolia obovata (W.T. Aiton) Link

Shrubs Trees
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £44.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
26 Suppliers

A large, rounded evergreen tree about about 12m tall or more with glossy dark green, leathery, oblong-elliptic leaves, often rusty-brown beneath, and highly fragrant, cup-shaped, cream flowers to 25cm across in late summer and autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Magnoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, well-drained preferably neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade. Tolerates dry, alkaline soil. See magnolia cultivation advice

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn or layering in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Low Maintenance
  • Hedging and screens
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained. See magnolia pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot