Magnolia 'Ann'

These are the most beautiful trees I know of in early spring. I planted pale yellow daffodils nearby, which bloom at the same time, and t...Read Morehey look fantastic together. I also planted crocus underneath, but that was like putting a canoe next to a yacht. Mine were on sale at Walmart, and didn't have a tag. They're smaller than standard saucer magnolias, with darker purple flowers that rebloom occasionally in late summer. The rest of the year, this is an unremarkable, bushy small tree. It can be trained into a more upright form, but I like its natural look. You can reduce the chance of late frost damage by planing them in morning shade. I'd say they're shade tolerant because mine get shade all morning and one also gets afternoon shade. They're in relatively dry spots with poor clay soil. That, combined with my low-maintenance approach of never watering or fertilizing, has meant growth of only a foot per year. They're normally slow growers anyway, and typically don't grow much at all in the first couple of years while they're developing a good root system. I'm happy with their blooming and overall appearance, but a more attentive gardener might use high-potassium fertilizer for a qucker start for the roots, and maybe a high-phosphorus fertilizer in later years to maximize the blooming. For beekeeping, this tree is a bust. It's a minor source of pollen for honey bees, and doesn't seem to provide any nectar. Pollinators mostly ignore ours. There's very little fall color. The leaves unceremoniously turn yellowish-brown and fall off. But what this tree lacks in other qualities, it more than makes up for during a couple of weeks in spring.

The U.S. National Arboretum presents eight hybrid magnolia cultivars affectionately known as ''The Girls.'' These selections offer a spec...Read Moretacular floral display approximately two weeks later than M. stellata and M. x soulangiana, thus decreasing the possibility of spring frost damage. The flowers are doubly delightful! They welcome spring in shades of pink to purple and later surprise you with occasional summer blooms. Plants grow as multistemmed large shrubs or small trees bearing slightly leathery leaves that stand up well to summer heat and drought. Winter reveals the plant architecture highlighted by smooth grey bark and fuzzy flower buds. In every season "The Girls'' embellish the landscape.