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Magnolia kobus

northern Japanese magnolia

M. kobus is a slender deciduous tree to 10m tall, with obovate leaves to 15cm long, and fragrant white flowers to 10cm wide, each with six petals, in spring, followed by pink fruits splitting to reveal scarlet seeds

Synonyms

Magnolia kobus var. borealis
Magnolia praecocissima

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Ultimate height

Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–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)

Botanical details

Family: Magnoliaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
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: Japan, Korea

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich, well-drained neutral to acid soil in sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds. Late frosts may damage flower buds. Further magnolia cultivation advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn and spring, softwood cuttings from late spring to early summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Magnolia pruning should be carried out in midsummer when in full leaf

Pests

May be damaged by horse chestnut scale, capsid bug and snails

Diseases

May be affected by coral spot, grey mould, honey fungus, a virus, fungal leaf spot or iron deficiency and lime-induced chlorosis

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