How to Grow a Magnolia Tree or Shrub

Magnolias bloom with the first rays of spring sunshine; heralds of warmer, longer days. Their spectacular flowers and relatively compact size make them popular in gardens of all shapes and sizes.

Magnolias are some of the earliest and most dramatic trees to bloom in spring. The eye-catching blooms may well stop you in your tracks, particularly if you're passing a scented variety. While the huge goblet blooms of Magnolia x soulangeana are most common in UK gardens, the large, star-shaped flowers of Magnolia stellata are just as beautiful.

Varying in size from small magnolia bushes to large trees, there's a magnolia to suit every size of garden. Evergreen magnolias, the most common of which is Magnolia grandiflora, are less common; unlike deciduous magnolias, these tall trees flower in late summer. 

Many magnolias have edible flowers, which taste a bit like ginger. You can add them to salads, pickle them or infuse them to create a deliciously spicy sweet syrup. I can recommend the last option as a tasty addition to cocktails or a drizzle for ice cream. Magnolia x soulangeana (saucer magnolia) is the most common edible variety, but as with any foraging, make sure you're completely confident in what you're picking.

Magnolias are slow growing trees, and mature plants are likely to establish faster and flower sooner, so it's worth buying the largest size you can afford. Browse our full range of magnolia trees and shrubs and get free delivery on orders over £50.

 

Where to plant magnolias

The ideal conditions for a magnolia are a sheltered spot in full sun, with rich, well-drained soil. Magnolias prefer neutral or slightly acidic soil, but some varieties, such as Magnolia stellata, Magnolia delavayi and Magnolia grandiflora will tolerate alkaline soil, as long as you dig in plenty of organic matter and keep it moist. Most common garden magnolias will cope with light shade, but deeper shade will affect flowering.

A sheltered spot is essential, as exposure to cold winds or frost can damage early flowers, turning the beautiful white or pink petals brown and mushy. If you live in a colder part of the country, it may be safer to choose a later-flowering variety like Magnolia 'Ricki'.

Magnolias are slow growing, but they can end up large trees, so make sure you take into account the eventual height and spread before planting. Magnolia roots are shallow and fleshy, so are unlikely to damage foundations, as long as trees are planted an appropriate distance from buildings. A small magnolia tree is a wonderful focal point in a front garden or courtyard garden, whether it's planted in the ground or in a large container. 

 

When to plant magnolias

Autumn or spring is the best time to plant magnolia shrubs and trees. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen. If you're planting a magnolia in summer, you'll need to pay extra attention to watering to make sure the soil remains moist and the plant establishes a strong root system.

 

How to plant magnolia trees and shrubs

Dig over the area where you're planting your magnolia shrub to loosen the soil. This will make it easier for the magnolia's roots to spread outwards. If your soil is compact, you can mix in some compost or other organic matter to help with drainage. Avoid manure, as it's slightly alkaline and magnolias prefer more acidic soil.

If you're planting a magnolia in a lawn, leave a circle of bare soil around the tree to ensure that water reaches the roots of the tree, rather than just watering the grass.

Give your magnolia a good drink about half an hour before you plant it. While you're waiting, dig a large hole that's the same depth as the pot your magnolia's in and three times the width.

Magnolias have fragile roots, and too much disturbance can harm the tree. Lift the plant out of its pot and place it directly in the hole, making sure the top of the roots are level with the surface. Backfill the hole and firm the soil gently. Water well and mulch with compost or bark chippings, making sure the mulch doesn't touch the trunk of the magnolia tree.

Growing magnolias in containers

You can grow smaller varieties of magnolia in large containers. Cultivars of star magnolia, such as Magnolia 'Rosea' and Magnolia 'Royal Star' are some of the most compact magnolia shrubs and ideal for growing in pots. If you want the classic tulip-shaped magnolia blooms, Magnolia liliflora 'Nigra' is a small lily magnolia with plum purple blooms.

Choose a container that has drainage holes and, if needed, add broken crocks to the base to aid drainage. Use a mix of peat-free multipurpose compost and ericaceous compost to part fill your pot. Place your magnolia tree or shrub in the container and fill the remaining space with more compost. When growing magnolias in pots, make sure you keep the plant well watered.

 

Magnolia tree care

Magnolias need a little help to get established. Apply a granular fertiliser around the base of the tree in late winter for the first few years after planting and top with a thick layer of mulch. Once established, you probably won't need to feed trees planted in the ground, unless you feel it needs a boost. Newly planted trees will also need watering regularly.

Magnolia trees in pots need regular feeding during the growing season. If you're not potting the magnolia into a larger container, top-dress the shrub every year in spring. Water your magnolia deeply 2–3 times a week during spring and summer.

Deciduous magnolias are hardy, but late frosts can damage the buds and blooms of early-flowering varieties. If you live in an area prone to late frosts, choose a magnolia that flowers later, in April or May to reduce the risk of frost damage.

When to prune a magnolia tree

Magnolias don't need regular pruning, but if you need to remove weak or damaged branches, you can do this after flowering, between mid summer and early autumn. Evergreen magnolia trees should be pruned in spring. Hard pruning magnolias doesn't always end well – to give yourself the best chance of success, spread the pruning over several seasons to minimise the shock to the plant.

 

How to propagate magnolias

The best way of propagating deciduous magnolias is by layering. The simplest method is to choose a young, flexible shoot that you can bend down to the ground. Make a "wound' in the branch through a leaf bud, around 30 cm from the tip. Brush the surfaces of the wound with hormone rooting powder and peg the section of branch down in a shallow trench in the ground, making sure the tip of the shoot is pointing up out of the soil.

It can take up to a year for a good root system to develop, but once it has, you can cut the branch to separate it from the parent plant and move the new plant to a different location. The best time to start layering is in spring or autumn.

It's possible to grow magnolias from seed, but it takes a long time. Plants grown from seed may take up to ten years to flower. Cuttings are faster, but they are likely to need supplementary heat and light, plus a frost-free location for the winter. If you want to try taking magnolia cuttings, the best option is to take softwood cuttings in spring from deciduous magnolias or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer from evergreen magnolias.

 

Common problems

If you're concerned that your magnolia isn't flowering, you may just need to be patient, particularly if you bought a young plant. Magnolia trees can take a couple of years to settle into a new location before flowering.

Once established, the main risk to magnolias is harsh weather. Frosts can blacken foliage and flower buds and turn beautiful white blooms into something resembling a shrivelled teabag. Dry, cool winds are just as damaging as cold temperatures. The damage is mostly cosmetic, but it's worth removing affected flowers to prevent fungal infections developing.

Brown leaves in summer are most likely due to drought, and can be a helpful reminder that even established magnolia trees may need watering during dry spells.

Magnolia leaves turning yellow is a sign that the soil is too alkaline. Check the pH of your soil using a testing kit. It's not easy to change the pH of your soil, but adding a mulch of ericaceous compost around the magnolia may help.

Magnolias may be affected by fungal diseases, including Phytophthora (root rot), honey fungus and bracket fungus. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do for an infected plant, other than digging it up and destroying it.

 

Our favourite magnolia varieties

Magnolia stellata 'Rosea' is a beautiful magnolia shrub that's ideal for small gardens. Its pink and white flowers set it apart from the traditional white star magnolia plant.

Magnolia x soulangeana is one of the most popular magnolias in UK gardens. It forms a broad shrub or tree with large, pink-flushed tulip-shaped flowers that bloom through spring.

Magnolia 'Merrill' produces masses of fragrant, white star-shaped flowers in March and April. This hybrid is faster-growing than most magnolias and flowers from a younger age.

Magnolia 'George Henry Kern' is a compact hybrid with fragrant, soft pink, goblet-shaped flowers. It has a longer flowering period than most magnolias and an RHS Award of Garden Merit.

 

FAQ

How long do magnolia trees take to grow?

Magnolias are slow growing and can take several decades to reach their maximum size. When buying a magnolia tree, make sure you check the eventual height and spread, so you can choose a plant that's an appropriate size for your garden.

Can a magnolia tree grow in a pot?

Smaller magnolia shrubs and trees can grow well in pots, as long as you take care of them. Choose a large container and make sure you water and feed it regularly during spring and summer. A Magnolia stellata tree is a good option for pots, or you could choose a Magnolia 'Susan' patio tree. 

When do magnolias bloom? 

Most deciduous magnolias flower in spring, with some varieties blooming in early summer. Magnolia stellata is one of the first to bloom, in late winter, with cultivars of Magnolia x soulangeana, Magnolia × loebneri and Magnolia liliiflora flowering in March or April. Magnolia grandiflora, an evergreen magnolia, flowers in late summer.

When should you prune a magnolia tree?

Prune your magnolia tree in summer, after it's flowered. Magnolias don't like heavy pruning, so only remove branches that are weak or damaged. If you need to renovate a magnolia shrub or reduce the size of a tree, carry out pruning over several years, pruning a few branches each year.