Some of these varieties like
DD Blanchard, Little Gem, Teddy Bear, Hasse and Kay Parris are great,
smaller options for smaller areas. If you are a little further North,
then ‘Bracken’s
Brown Beauty’, which can take zone 5B, would be a better option for you.
This early bloomer marks the beginning of spring and will get loaded with beautiful pink flowers. It will be one of the first things blooming and makes a gorgeous specimen tree or backdrop in your landscape. Its medium size will not overwhelm a landscape and will grow at a moderate pace. This very showy, deciduous tree is a must for any landscape. This tree has great pest and disease resistance.
Also known sometimes as sweet magnolia, swamp laurel or
white bay, the Sweetbay magnolia is most prominent along creek sides and swampy
lowlands in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina but can grow as far north as
Pennsylvania. This tree can handle extensive flooding or damp conditions. The silvery
underside of these trees leaves puts on a brilliant show in the wind. Sweetbay
can also handle well drained soil and makes a great specimen tree and will be
the focal point in any landscape. Not to be confused with Saucer Magnolia which has a pink flower and does not do as well in wet places.
Check out our 8 Water Loving Trees.
Star can be grown as an rounded specimen tree or on a wood line or natural area. It is named after its brilliant white flowers with about 15 or so petals. This is a good alternative to the Saucer magnolia which holds a vase shape with pink tulip shaped flowers. Like most Magnolias, Star is resistant to most insects and diseases.
This magnolia is rarely found but it can be seen and identified from a mile away when you stumble across it. This is a country tree, intolerant of the city pollutants and you should feel privileged to come across it. This tree only blooms in its teenage years and the blooms are usually too high up to see. These blooms however, are12 inches wide and saucer shaped and very fragrant. This tree likes sheltered areas, away from wind that can damage the leaves. This tree is usually found in the southeastern United States, around the Appalachian Mountain area. Macrophylla’s leaves can grow to be almost 3 feet long and up to 1 foot wide.
This tree is not often
seen in nurseries, as it is not often propagated due to its demanding
needs.It likes loose, rich, fertile, undisturbed soil with plenty of
moisture.
There are 2 other subspecies of Magnolia macrophylla.
This one only grows to 15 feet tall and is found further
south (mid-florida), in warmer, sub tropic climates as well.It is commonly found along the Apalachicola River.
This subspecies is native to Mexico.
Little Gem is a much smaller, more manageable version of the Southern Magnolia. This tree is found in just about every office park in the south and makes a great evergreen screen to block out the neighbors. These brilliant trees produce beautiful, large flowers and are pretty resistant to most insects and diseases.
What types of Magnolias grow in your area?
What tree best represents your region or state?
Write me back with your favorite trees or questions!
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Why wont Grass Grow Under My Trees
How to Grow Plants Using the Color Spectrum of Light
12 great live Christmas trees for the landscape