How To Grow And Care For Magnolia Trees

Few plants can be considered as quintessentially Southern as the magnolia. Their big, waxy, glossy leaves juxtaposed with heady, fragrant flowers are familiar sights to Southerners. These are favorite trees for Southern yards because of their perfumed blooms, which are always a draw for gardeners, and their variety of selections. Every gardener has their favorite, and we think there's a magnolia species for every yard. Plant deciduous magnolias in late fall or winter and evergreen magnolias in early spring for blooming throughout spring and summer months.

If you don't know which to grow, let us help you pick the right magnolia tree for you. Learn more about these Southern favorites below, with different species, hybrids, and selections that thrive across the varied climates of the South. Then read on for information about planting magnolias, establishing them, and tending them in your yard all year round.

Plant Attributes

Magnolia Tree Care

You can help your newly planted magnolias establish themselves in your yard by preventing soil compaction around the root zone. Try to keep foot traffic around the base of the tree to a minimum. Also, prune only when necessary. Magnolias seldom have serious pest or disease problems, so that shouldn't affect your tree care. They're also rarely browsed by deer or other wild garden visitors.

Magnolias thrive in full sun or partial shade with regular water. Ensure your magnolia receives enough water and that it's planted in well-drained soil. Few magnolias tolerate soggy soil. Sweet bay (M. virginiana) is an exception and can thrive in wet areas.

Light

Magnolia varieties prefer full sun to light shade. In warmer or dry climates, they appreciate some shade in the afternoon.

Soil

These trees grow best in moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic, but a range of pH levels offer suitable growing conditions for them. While they can adapt to sandy, loamy, and clay soils, magnolias do not grow well in soils with poor drainage.

Water

Once established, magnolias can be fairly drought-tolerant. For the first three to six months, young magnolia trees need to be watered two or three times per week. After that, the tree will need to be watered weekly until it is established (usually for the first two years of its life.) Give the tree two to three gallons of water for every inch of trunk diameter every time you water.

Gauge the tree’s water needs based on the temperature and rainfall in your area. For instance, if it rains a lot three times in a week, you won't need to water the tree that week. Additionally, if it's really hot outside, you may need to water more frequently. Mulching around the base of the tree, but not near the trunk, will help keep water in. Leaves on the tree will begin to droop if you are overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

Magnolia trees prefer warm and humid climates. Seedlings can be susceptible to frost damage. Some varieties, such as the Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) do not tolerate heavy snow and ice well. Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) doesn’t have special temperature needs. Just plant it within the hardiness zone (USDA 4-10).

Fertilizer

Magnolia trees should be fertilized once a year in early spring with a slow-release, organic fertilizer. A balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 14-14-14 or 10-10-10 performs well for the magnolia tree. Because of the magnolias' wide root system, you will need to spread the fertilizer wide, up to 10 inches away from the trunk base. Early spring is when the magnolia tree is in its season of active growth, making it the perfect time to fertilize. Using fertilizer unnecessarily on some magnolias, like Sweet Bay, can cause fertilizer burn.

Types of Magnolia Tree

Magnolias are deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs that can most accurately be described as magnificent flowering plants. Their blooms are creamy and thick and their foliage varies from shiny and waxy (see: Magnolia grandiflora) to soft, green, enormous, and shaped like saucers (see: M. macrophylla, also known as bigleaf magnolia).

Whether evergreen or deciduous, most magnolias have large, striking blossoms composed of petal-like segments. We've classified magnolias by type, including species, hybrids, and selections.

Evergreen Magnolias

To many people, the word "magnolia" is synonymous with our native Magnolia grandiflora, the classic Southern magnolia with large, glossy leaves and huge, fragrant white blossoms―the state flower of Mississippi and Louisiana. Few trees can match it for year-round beauty. It does, however, have its drawbacks.

Unnamed seedlings often take 10 years after planting before they come into bloom. Dense shade and shallow roots make it impossible to grow grass beneath the canopy, and the roots often crack and lift pavement if the tree is planted between the sidewalk and curb. Though evergreen, the leaves of M. grandiflora can drop 365 days a year. Since the tree grows as wide as 40 feet and up to 80 feet tall, it takes up a lot of garden space. Newer selections like 'Little Gem' only grow to 10 feet wide and 20 feet tall.

Sweet bay (M. virginiana), a smaller tree, is easier to fit into most gardens. Though mostly deciduous in the Upper and Middle South, it's evergreen in the Lower and Coastal South and more cold-hardy than M. grandiflora.

New entries to this group are plants previously listed under the genus Michelia. These trees and shrubs hail from China and the Himalayas and are generally less cold-hardy than other evergreen magnolias, growing best in zone 8 or 9 and warmer. They're renowned for their profuse, wonderfully fragrant flowers, which are borne among their leaves as opposed to the ends of the branches.

Popular selections include:

• M. grandiflora: 'Alta', 'Bracken's Brown Beauty', 'D. D. Blanchard', 'Edith Bogue', 'Little Gem', 'Majestic Beauty', 'Samuel Sommer', 'St. Mary', 'Symmes Select', 'Teddy Bear', 'Timeless Beauty', 'Victoria'
• M. virginiana: 'Henry Hicks', 'Moonglow', var. australis 'Mardi Gras', 'Green Shadow', 'Sweet Thing', 'Tensaw'

Deciduous Magnolias With Saucer Flowers

This group includes the popular saucer magnolia (M. x soulangeana) and its myriad selections, often called tulip trees because of the shape and bright color of their flowers. They prefer fertile, acid, well-drained soil. They do not tolerate heavy wind or salt spray.

Early-flowering selections are prone to frost damage. Related to these, but less tolerant of winter cold and summer heat, are the spectacular magnolias from western China and the Himalayas―Sargent magnolia (M. sargentiana) and Sprenger magnolia (M. sprengeri). Though their early flowers may fall victim to late freezes, one spring season with good blooms will quickly make you forget the disappointments of years past.

Popular selections include:

• M. x soulangeana: 'Alba Superba', 'Alexandrina', 'Black Tulip', 'Brozzonii', 'Lennei', 'Lilliputian', 'Rustica Rubra', 'Verbanica'
• M. sprengeri: 'Diva'

Deciduous Magnolias With Star Flowers

This group includes Kobus magnolia (M. kobus), Loebner magnolia (M. x loebneri), and star magnolia (M. stellata). All are cold-hardy, heat-tolerant, adaptable plants with fragrant flowers. The flowers have petals that branch out in forms resembling many-armed stars. Late frosts sometimes damage the early blooms of these magnolias. Several selections of star magnolias bear rosy pink blooms. M. stellata 'Rosea' is also commonly known as "pink star magnolia."

Popular selections include:

• M. stellata: 'Centennial','Dawn', 'Royal Star', 'Two Stones'
• Pink blooms: M. stellata 'Rosea', 'Jane Platt', 'Rubra', 'Water Lily'

Other Magnolia Species

Less widely planted―but deserving of greater attention―is a group of large-leafed native magnolias generally grown as bold accents or shade trees. Cucumber tree (M. acuminata) and its smaller sibling, yellow cucumber tree (M. a. subcordata), are the source of the yellow blossom color of many new hybrids.

Bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla), umbrella magnolia (M. tripetala), Fraser magnolia (M. fraseri), and Ashe magnolia (M. ashei) are medium-sized trees with huge leaves and large flowers that appear after the leaves unfurl. In its own category is Oyama magnolia (M. sieboldii), native to western China. It bears drooping, cup-shaped, fragrant blooms after leaves emerge.

Pruning

Prune magnolia trees to remove dead or damaged limbs and to maintain shape by shortening long branches. After flowering, use pruners or a pruning saw to shorten branches to where they join another branch. Branches cut from the bottom of a large Southern magnolia tree will probably not grow back.

Propagating Magnolia Trees

The best time to propagate a magnolia is in the summer after its buds have set with cuttings from young growth. Follow these steps to properly propagate your magnolia tree:

1. Use sharp pruners or a knife to cut a 6-inch piece from the tip of the branch. Immediately place the cutting in water. Remove the lower leaves, keeping a few upper leaves intact. Cut above a node.
2. Dip the stem into a hormone rooting solution and plant the cutting into a 10- to 12-inch pot filled with moist, well-drained rooting medium.
3. Place the pot in a bright location, cover it with plastic, and keep moist until the cutting develops a system of roots.

How to Grow Magnolia Trees From Seed

To grow a magnolia tree from seed, follow these steps:

1. Collect seeds from fallen cones during the fall. Let the cones dry and open them to collect the seeds.
2. Soak the seeds in warm water for one to two days to soften the seed coating.
3. Remove the seeds from the water and dry them to remove the coating.
4. Pack the seeds with moist peat moss in a plastic bag and refrigerate them during the winter.
5. When outdoor temperatures reach 70 degrees, plant the seeds in the desired location in your yard. Mulch the seedlings well and protect them during the first few winters.

Planting Magnolia Trees

For any magnolia, be sure to pick your planting site carefully. Virtually all types are hard to move once established, and many grow quite large, which makes them nearly impossible to move later. The best soil for magnolias is fairly rich, well-drained, and neutral to slightly acid; if necessary, add generous amounts of organic matter when planting.

Southern magnolia (M. grandiflora) is good for planting at the beach, though not on dunes. It can stand up to some salty sea breezes. Sweet bay (M. virginiana) tolerates wet soil. The species and selections listed are adapted to a wide range of growing conditions and are easy for most gardeners to grow.

Magnolias never look their best when crowded, and they may be severely damaged by digging around their roots. Larger deciduous sorts are most attractive standing alone against a background that will display their flowers at bloom time and show off their strongly patterned, usually gray limbs and big, fuzzy flower buds in winter. Small deciduous magnolias show up well in large flower or shrub borders and make choice ornaments too. Most magnolias are excellent lawn trees; try to provide a good-size grass-free area around the trunk, and don't plant under the tree.

Balled-and-burlapped plants are available in late winter and early spring; container plants are sold all year. Do not set plants lower than their original soil level. Stake single-trunked or very heavy plants to prevent them from being rocked by the wind, which will tear the thick, fleshy, sensitive roots. To avoid damaging the roots, set stakes in the planting hole before placing the tree.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Magnolias have relatively few issues with pests and diseases, but there are some fungal diseases and pests you may encounter with a magnolia that can be treated.

If you notice a branch dies suddenly while the rest are healthy, the fungal disease canker may be to blame. Prune the dead branch along with a few inches of new growth, and dispose of the affected branch properly.

Leaf spot is another common disease that affects magnolia trees, however, it is usually not dangerous to the plant and only requires you to cut off the affected area. Symptoms of leaf spot include black or brown spots on the foliage, yellowing, or early leaf falling.

Issues with black twig borer have recently become more common, especially on Southern magnolias. These insects attach younger stems, about the size of a pencil. You'll notice dieback on the tree from the tip. Address the problem by cutting into good green tissue about 3-4 inches deep. These pests often won't kill the tree but can cause unsightly damage.

How to Get Magnolia Trees to Bloom

Magnolia trees bloom in ivory whites, pale yellows, and pretty pinks, with some species flowering in the heat of summer and others blooming in late winter as harbingers of warmer weather to come.

It can take several years for a young magnolia tree to bloom, especially if it was an unnamed, generic variety when purchased. Look for magnolia selections that are named, as they bloom earlier, or buy a tree with blooms or buds already on it.

Magnolia trees need lots of sunlight to bloom, so make sure to plant them in a sunny spot. Pruning your tree incorrectly, over-fertilization, and root damage can also prevent magnolia trees from blooming.

Common Problems With Magnolia Trees

Once established, magnolia trees are pretty low-maintenance trees, that rarely have problems with pests and disease. However, there are a few issues you should watch out for. Thankfully, most problems with magnolia trees can be easily treated by pruning or spraying with a horticultural oil.

Leaves Turning Yellow/Plant Leaves Falling Off

If a white powder is present on the leaves, the magnolia tree may drop yellowed leaves early in the season. Apply a horticultural oil or neem oil to help control the powdery mildew.

Yellowing, early dropping, or small black or brown spots on magnolia leaves indicate leaf spot, which is a common disease that doesn’t cause significant damage or require treatment. Remove any affected fallen leaves to keep the problem under control.

Sooty Mold

Velvety black growth on the leaves means sooty mold is present. Spray water across the surface of the leaves to wash it away, or treat more severe cases with horticultural oil.