Magnolia soulangeana
Tulip Magnolia
Common names: Tulip magnolia
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive
- Pruning
- Jun–Jul
- Flowering
- Apr
Photo: Piotr Kuczynski · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Tulip Magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana) is one of the most popular flowering shrubs for front gardens and larger gardens. Before leaf-out in April, large tulip‑shaped flowers open in shades of pink to white, often with a darker pink base. Botanically it is a hybrid of two Asian Magnolia species. Its early flowering time makes it vulnerable to late frosts: a cold morning in mid‑April (week 15‑16) can brown the open flowers. As a mature shrub or small tree it requires space and a sheltered, sunny to partially shaded location.
Care instructions
Plant the Tulip Magnolia in a wind‑protected spot, ideally against a house wall or between other shrubs, to reduce late‑frost damage to the flowers. The soil should be humus‑rich, loose, and slightly acidic to neutral; improve heavy, clay soils with compost before planting. Water young plants regularly during the first two years, especially during dry summer periods. Pruning is minimal; remove only dead or crossing branches immediately after flowering. If late night frosts are forecast in spring, cover smaller specimens with a frost cloth to protect the delicate flowers.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringApr
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, loamy
The saucer magnolia likes deep, humus-rich soil that holds moisture but does not become waterlogged. It tolerates calcareous soils poorly; a slightly acidic to neutral pH suits it best. Before planting, plenty of compost or leaf mould in the planting hole is worthwhile so that the shallow roots can develop well.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
In early spring work a layer of ripe compost into the root zone; this supplies the tree with nutrients over the whole season. After flowering in May you can top up once more with well-rotted manure or horn shavings. A mulch layer of leaves or bark humus retains moisture and supplies organic material on the side.
Pruning
The saucer magnolia needs no regular pruning and looks its best when you let it keep its natural habit. Prune only straight after flowering in early summer, so that the buds for next year have time to form. Remove only dead, diseased or crossing branches.
Overwintering
In most locations in the DACH region the saucer magnolia is hardy and needs no special protection. Young trees benefit in their first years from a layer of mulch over the root zone against frost. The thick flower buds can be damaged by late frosts in April; in exposed spots, horticultural fleece overnight can help.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- Layering
- Grafting
Layering is the most reliable method for home gardeners: press a low-hanging, flexible shoot into the ground in spring and fix it in place; after one to two years it has rooted and can be separated. Semi-ripe cuttings in summer succeed only with a lot of patience and high humidity under plastic film. Grafting onto a robust rootstock is used mainly by nurseries to propagate true-to-type plants in larger numbers.
For your garden
Grow Tulip Magnolia yourself
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