Magnolia delavayi

RHS Plant Profile
Delavay's magnolia

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Delavay's magnolia Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Delavay's magnolia RHS
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Large rounded evergreen shrub or tree about 10m tall, with broad, leathery leaves, to 35cm long, and fragrant, cup-shaped pale creamy-white flowers to 20cm wide produced in summer; ideal for a warm wall

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand, Chalk

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand Chalk
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
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)
H4

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
China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich, well-drained neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds. Late frosts may damage flower buds. Will tolerate dry, alkaline soil conditions. See magnolia cultivation for further advice

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Climber and wall shrubs

Pruning

pruning group 9 or can be 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