Don’t let their name put you off... the magnolia is the star of the show for the next month
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
I love this time of year as opulent flowers emerge from buds
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.