The Spectacular Full Grown Butterfly Magnolia Tree

Popular Magnolia Trees for Your Garden

There are many different types of magnolias grown in gardens, and there are some suitable for all kinds of locations and climates. Here are some of the most important ones:

There are several species of magnolia that lose their leaves in winter. These mostly come from China and Japan, where they grow in woodlands and on hill-sides. Hundreds of varieties have been developed from them, and it is these, rather than the wild species, that are mostly grown in gardens.

This is the most widely grown deciduous magnolia, and it is a hybrid of the following two species:

Magnolia Denudata is called the Lily Tree or Yulan Magnolia. It grows wild in central and eastern China, and for almost 1500 years it has been cultivated in the grounds of Buddhist temples. It grows into a rounded tree no more than 30 feet tall, and it has white flowers in early spring.

Magnolia Liliiflora grows in south-western China, and it is called the Mulan magnolia, or purple magnolia. It is a small tree growing to just 12 or 15 feet tall, with flowers of a rich purple color.

These two trees had been brought to France in the 18th century, and in 1820, a retired officer from Napoleon’s army called Étienne Soulange-Bodin crossed these two species at his château outside Paris. The resulting tree is very widely grown in gardens, and as well, since seedlings grown from these trees produce variable flowers, many new varieties – up to a hundred – have been developed around the world.

Known as the Saucer Magnolia, this large shrub or small tree produces flowers in very early spring, on the bare branches, before the leaves emerge. Depending on the variety, the flowers may be white, pink, or purple, often with darker shades on the outside, and lighter shades inside. It is more tolerant of alkaline soils than many other magnolias, so it can grow easily in many gardens.

This, and it close relative Magnolia kobus, are called the Star Magnolia, because the petals of the flowers are narrow but long, and radiate from the center of the flower in a star pattern. It grows as a small to medium-sized shrub no more than 10 feet tall, with white flowers covering the bare branches in very early spring, from an early age. This is one of the hardiest magnolias, growing and flowering well even in zone 4. It grows well in most soils, and even grows in urban conditions, making it one of the easiest magnolias to grow almost anywhere. There is a variety called ‘rosea’, which has pink flowers.

This group of 8 different magnolias was developed at the National Arboretum, Washington in the 1950s. It was developed to deal with a specific problem growing deciduous magnolias in colder areas. Although the trees are hardy, and survive cold winters well, once the flower buds begin to develop they are sensitive to even light frost. Because they develop on the trees so early in the year, late frosts – which occur in many cold parts of the country – can destroy the blooming even before it begins, or when it has barely begun.

To overcome this problem, two scientists at the National Arboretum, William F. Kosar and Dr. Francis de Vos, made hybrids from the hardy star magnolia, and one of the parents of the Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora), which we have already described. They used several varieties, with different flower colors and forms, of these two species in different crosses, to produce the biggest range of colors and flowers in their seedlings. They flower one or two weeks later than most other varieties, so they usually miss late frosts, and flower successfully in areas where others will usually be killed. Because of the star magnolia parent, the flowers are more open and spreading, showing off the paler colors within the flower.

The Little Girl Series Hybrid Magnolias
Name	Flower color	Parent One	Parent Two
‘Ann’	Pinkish-red	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Betty’	Reddish-purple	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Judy’	Pink	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Randy’	Purplish-pink	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Ricki’	Reddish-purple	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Susan’	Purplish-red	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
‘Jane’	Dark purple	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Reflorescens’	Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’
‘Pinkie’	Pink	Magnolia liliiflora ‘Reflorescens’	Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’

After testing these plants for several years, they released them in the 1960s, and they are easily recognized because they all have girl’s names. Among the most popular are ‘Jane’, with dark-purple flowers, ‘Betty’ with reddish-purple flowers, ‘Ann’, with pinkish-red flowers, and ‘Randy’, with flowers that are more purple-pink in color. All of them form small trees, ideal for smaller gardens, and they will grow well across a wide area from zone 4 to zone 8. They are undoubtedly the top picks for American gardens, top choices among the many different kinds of deciduous magnolias available.

Most evergreen magnolias grown in gardens are derived from the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). This tree is native to the southeast, from North Carolina down into Florida, and west into Texas and Oklahoma. Old wild trees can be 90 feet tall, although garden trees are usually much smaller.

Magnolia Grandiflora trees grow in areas close to water, but not in it – this tree does not like constant wet soil. The leaves are up to 8 inches long, glossy above and with a brown, felt-like underside.

The flowers are up to 12 inches across, and richly perfumed. They bloom throughout the summer. There are three main reasons why the wild tree, although attractive, is rarely grown in gardens. One is its size. Secondly, trees take many years to begin flowering, and must grow to a large size first. Thirdly, they are not very hardy, so they cannot be grown in many parts of the country. So many different varieties – called ‘cultivars’ – have been developed, that overcome some or all of these issues. Here are the most important and valuable of them:

Bracken’s Brown Beauty – Named after Ray Bracken, and developed by him in the 1960s in South Carolina, this is a smaller, very compact form, and it is also among the hardiest, growing well in Southern Ohio and on Long Island. The leaves are narrower than in the wild tree, with a very thick, dark-brown felt on the underside. The flowers are smaller, around 6 inches across, but they are profuse for many months.

D.D. Blanchard – this variety began at Robbins Nursery in North Carolina, and it is notable for its upright form, with a single central trunk. The result is that although it will grow tall, it can be planted in a narrower space than other varieties. The flowers are 8 inches across.

Edith Bogue – This variety, named after Edith A. Bogue, a gardener in Florida, is perhaps the hardiest variety. It was introduced into New Jersey in the 1920s, and has been widely grown in colder regions ever since. It can withstand temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia only grows to around 35 feet tall, and it forms an elegant pyramidal shape. This variety is a top-choice for colder areas.

Kay Parris – This is a smaller variety, growing to around 25 feet tall in time, but staying smaller for many years. It is completely hardy in zone 6, bringing the Southern Magnolia to many gardeners who thought it was impossible to grow one. It is a cross between ‘Little Gem’ and ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’.

Little Gem – this is perhaps the smallest variety available, and it blooms when just 3 or 4 feet tall. It is ideal for smaller gardens, and also for growing in large pots and tubs. It only grows 12 to 15 feet tall, and 4 feet wide, and the leaves are only 5 inches long. The flowers are up to 6 inches across. This variety was created by Warren Steed, from seeds he collected in the town of Candor, North Carolina. He grew them at his nursery and in 1966 released ‘Little Gem’ to gardeners. It remains an extremely popular variety.

Although this species of evergreen magnolia was the first one sent to Europe from America, it is not as widely grown as the southern magnolia. This is a pity, as it is a handsome tree, and is much hardier than its cousin, as it will grow throughout zone 5, and it is found naturally as far north as New Jersey.

The flowers of the Sweetbay Magnolia, as it is called, are creamy-white, up to 5 inches across, and they are very strongly perfumed with the smell of vanilla. A tree will perfume the air hundreds of yards away, making it a great tree to bring beautiful scent to your whole garden. In southern areas it is evergreen, but in colder regions it can lose some or all of its leaves in winter, while the stems and buds remain quite hardy. This tree is a great choice for more natural landscaping and for planting in woodlands on your property.

The Best Features of a Magnolia Tree

– Spectacular flowers in spring or summer – Rich, glossy green foliage in the evergreen kinds – Wonderful specimen or screening trees – Wide range of colors and sizes for every garden – Easily grown and long-lived in many climate zones

The Stunning Butterflies Magnolia

FAQ

How big do butterfly magnolia trees get?

It typically grows as an upright, pyramidal tree to 18-20′ tall with a single trunk. It also grows as a multi-stemmed shrub. Upright, tulip-like, yellow flowers (to 4-5” across) bloom in late winter to early spring (late March in St. Louis).

What are the downsides of magnolia trees?

• Root Damage:

  Magnolias have shallow, spreading root systems that can damage pavements, driveways, and even foundations if planted too close. 

• Leaf Drop:

  Evergreen magnolias drop leaves year-round, while deciduous varieties shed leaves and flowers in the fall, leading to mess. 

• Sunlight Obstruction:

  Mature magnolias can create significant shade, potentially blocking sunlight to other plants and parts of the yard. 

• Space Requirements:

  Many magnolia varieties, especially evergreen species like Magnolia grandiflora, can grow quite large, requiring ample space. 

• Pest and Disease Vulnerability:

  While generally hardy, magnolias can be susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew and pests like magnolia scale. 

• Allelopathy:

  Some magnolia species release chemicals into the soil that can inhibit the growth of other plants nearby, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 

Where to plant butterfly magnolia tree?

Plant Magnolia in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil. Pruning requirement are minimal—remove dead or broken branches in late winter or early spring when plant is dormant. Other pruning can be done as needed after bloom.

Where should you not plant a magnolia tree?

One thing to note about Magnolias in particular is that their root system can be extremely strong and large. If planted too close to your house or fence, they can be destructive! Because of this, we made sure to plant them about 6′ away from the fence line, and they’re nowhere near the house.