Magnolia Species, Star Magnolia

My Star Magnolia is seventeen years old, grows in Zone 6 near British Columbia on a silt and blue clay soil. It took about three years t...Read Moreo establish, and then it took off! It needs pruning to keep it in check once it's decided it likes it's surroundings. Having done this, my Magnolia stands about twelve feet tall and is very full. copme the first days of Sping it bursts into bloom, covering itself in swan-white blossoms. Nothing seems to phase it, and the birds absolutely adore building nests in the thick canopy. If you can grow this, you should grow it. The bark is smooth and ash grey and the overall form is naturally graceful. Genuinely a small tree for all seasons.

This stellata magnolia tends to bloom very early in the U.S. mid-Southeast regions making it very susceptible to early frost/freezes. By...Read More planting this on a north slope helps, sometimes, delaying early blooming. Too often Star Magnolias are planted near home foundations which make them bud out too early in the Spring also, which leads to bloom damage.

It is interesting to me that this plant is described as slow growing. Better description might be slow to establish. I planted mine in pr...Read Moreetty heavy clay, as a literal 12” stick with some roots. It kinda hung around for about three years and then it took off. I’d say I am on year six and it is well over my head and very full and although it had nice blooms this spring, I expect it is going to be magnificent next spring. The tree/bush is a fuss-free anchor in my perennial garden that has great early flowers, robust foliage through the summer and a nice bare stem shape in the winter. And I just saw that it grows up to zone 4 so one will be going in at my lake property in Wisconsin.

Just to be clear: Star Magnolia does well at my home, but the one I am writing about was at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. When...Read More I was an undergraduate there was one in front of Goldwin-Smith Hall to the left of the main entrance on the Quad side. Despite considerable shade from some very carefully preserved American Elms, it bloomed gracefully if thinly in the springs I was there.