Deciduous Magnolia Trees
Deciduous magnolias are some of the most frequently planted trees around the world. They are popular due to their slow growth habit, large showy flowers in spring and attractive leaves and bark. Many deciduous magnolias are also scented in warm weather. So long as magnolias have the space to grow fully they are hardy plants and easy to look after. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Deciduous Magnolia
-
Magnolias come in two different types: evergreen and deciduous. Deciduous magnolias include the star magnolia (Magnolia sellata) and saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) which are probably the most popular of those in cultivation. Deciduous magnolias have large glossy green leaves roughly 6 inches long which turn slightly yellow before dropping off in late fall. Deciduous magnolia flowers open in spring long before the leaves regrow. The flowers are pollinated by beetles.
Distribution
-
Deciduous magnolia are native to eastern United States and Southern Asia. There are roughly 80 different species and over half of these are used in cultivation. Magnolias have developed to grow in many different habitats and come in many different shapes and sizes from small 10 foot tall Lilly flowered magnolias to large 20 foot tall saucer magnolias. Due to their popularity in gardens, magnolias can now be found growing around the world.
-
Uses in Gardening
-
Deciduous magnolias are hardy and easy to look after in the garden once established. They are most commonly used as a focal plant as they are attractive when allowed to grow to their full size and do not tolerate pruning. When used as a focal plant and grown in an exposed area they can be sensitive to late frosts, as these can damage the large flowers. This being the case magnolias are best sited where they will be sheltered from late freezing temperature in the morning and receive full sun all afternoon.
Transplanting Diciduous Magnolia
-
Deciduous magnolia do not recover well from transplanting as their roots are easily broken. If transplanting is unavoidable cut some of the roots to just inside of where you are going to dig up the root ball, this will encourage them to branch and row more fibrous. The following year dig up as large a root ball as possible when you transplant. Keep the magnolia well watered in dry weather for the next two to three years while it re-establishes.
Pests and Diseases
-
Deciduous magnolias do not suffer badly from any pests or diseases. In spring time they can be attacked by magnolia scale insects which suck the sap. These can be ignored unless they start to damage the tree, such as yellowing of the leaves, then they should be removed with an oil based insecticide. If scale are present and the the tree also develops sooty mold - a black sticky mold on the leaves - then the mold should be treated with a fungicide.
-
References
- Photo Credit magnolia image by Andrzej Włodarczyk from Fotolia.com
