Western Mail

Anything but beige

DON’T LET THEIR NAME PUT YOU OFF – MAGNOLIAS ARE THE STAR OF THE SHOW FOR THE NEXT MONTH

- DIARMUID GAVIN

WHY do paint manufactur­ers describe their boring beige colour as magnolia? It’s puzzling because magnolias are associated with beautiful pinks, ranging from intense dark purple ones through to the palest blush, occasional­ly with a hint of lilac.

There are also wonderful species such as the evergreen magnolia with pure ivory white flowers as well as the yellow magnolias... but they are never beige and never boring.

You’ll gather I’m a fan of magnolias and I love this time of year when the opulent flowers emerge from silvery furry buds. Their loveliness is enhanced by the lack of leaves so there’s nothing to distract or cover their magnificen­ce.

Whether towering tall on a grand estate or sitting comfortabl­y in a front suburban garden, the magnolia has a unique, special beauty.

They are a diverse family ranging from evergreen to deciduous, and small to large.

While many prefer neutral to acidic soil, there are quite a few that don’t mind alkaline, such as the very popular star magnolia, M. stellata.

This is a gorgeous shrub-sized magnolia with white long-petalled, star-shaped flowers and will fit in all but the smallest gardens.

The lilac magnolia, Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’, is also suitable for average soils and is a personal favourite of mine. It has lilac-pink star-shaped flowers and even juvenile trees of this variety will put on a good display in their early years.

Magnolia flowers can be damaged by frost, particular­ly those that flower very early in the season. A sheltered spot is best, with plenty of sunshine.

When planting, enrich the soil

with plenty of organic matter as this will help retain moisture.

In a very dry summer, keep an eye on magnolias as this is when they are forming buds for the following year and if these shrivel up, you’ll have a poor display the next spring. Water if necessary.

You’ll spot flowering magnolias if you go for a walk in your neighbourh­ood during the next month or so – the

one you see absolutely everywhere is Magnolia soulangean­a, which has very large tulip-shaped pink flowers that taper to white at the top.

If you’d like to explore their diversity in greater depth, visit one of the national collection­s of magnolias, which are held in Caerhays, Cornwall; Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire; Bodnant Gardens in Conwy and Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.

 ?? ?? Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’
Magnolia soulangean­a
Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’ Magnolia soulangean­a
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 ?? ?? Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’
Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’

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