How to Plant a Saucer Magnolia
- Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut a 6- to 9-inch cutting from the tip of a branch. Immediately place the cutting into water to keep it moist.
- Remove all but the upper leaves, then make a 2-inch vertical slice in the end of the stem.
- Dip the stem into a hormone solution, then place the tip of the cutting into a planter filled with moist perlite.
- Place the cutting in indirect light and cover it loosely with a plastic bag to keep the cutting humid. Mist the cutting often and watch for roots ...
How do you care for a saucer magnolia tree?
Saucer magnolia trees do best in moist, acidic, organically rich and well-drained loamy soil, though they will tolerate clay soils. During the first year of planting, water the tree deeply and frequently. Afterward, saucer magnolias need irrigation only when the weather is dry.
Can you grow a saucer magnolia from cuttings?
Saucer magnolia is a fairly fast-growing tree that can be propagated from cuttings, but be prepared for a good number of the cuttings to fail. If you start 4 to 6 cuttings, you have a good likelihood of one or two succeeding. It's best to take cuttings in summer after the buds have set.
When is the best time to plant saucer magnolia?
To enhance plant growth, fertilize in late winter or early spring with a balanced fertilizer. Now is a good time to plant Saucer magnolia in your landscapes. Take care to give this plant a prominent location where it can be appreciated for its late winter beauty. Happy gardening!
What should I consider when planting a magnolia tree?
When planting a magnolia tree, keep in mind that this tree is one in which plenty of room will be needed. A magnolia trees roots grow more prolifically than those of many other trees, with the roots spreading out beneath the ground far wider in diameter than the canopy of the tree.
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How long does it take for a saucer magnolia tree to grow?
Saucer Magnolia Growing Conditions Growing about 1-2 feet (30.5-61 cm.) per year, they can reach 20-30 feet (6-9 m.) tall and 20-25 feet (6-7.5 m.) wide at maturity.
Where is the best place to plant a magnolia?
Magnolias prefer a spot in the garden that receives full sun to light shade. That said, if you live in a particularly warm or dry climate, your magnolia might benefit from a location shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
Do saucer magnolias have deep roots?
The shallow-growing root system doesn't usually grow deeper than 16 inches into the soil. The roots are rope-like and thick and grow unbranched horizontally for moderate distances.
When should magnolia trees be planted?
Deciduous Magnolias are best planted in early spring or early fall, when the weather has cooled and they have time to establish themselves. Evergreen magnolias are best planted in the spring but they can be planted in the fall, as long as there is at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost.
Where should you not plant a magnolia tree?
Magnolias prefer full sun to light shade. If you live in a particularly warm or dry climate, your magnolia might benefit from a location shaded from the hot afternoon sun. If possible, avoid exposed, windy locations because strong winds can damage large flowers and the typically brittle branches.
How far away from the house should I plant a magnolia tree?
about 50 feet awayDetermining how far from your home you should plant a magnolia tree is no easy feat. However, it's best to measure about 50 feet away from your house to ensure you don't run into trouble as the tree matures.
Can you grow a saucer magnolia from a cutting?
Saucer magnolia cuttings typically take from four to six weeks to root. After four weeks, give it a slight tug. If it feels stuck in the planting medium, it most likely has formed roots.
How many times a year does a saucer magnolia bloom?
Saucer magnolias (Magnolia x soulangiana) generally do well in California. They are hardy in zones five through eight. This variety is particularly prone to blooming twice, once in spring and the other around July.
When can I transplant a saucer magnolia?
Moving a Magnolia Tree The best time to transplant them is in the winter or early spring. Before doing anything, measure the trunk at chest height with a pair of calipers. Choose trees with trunks less than 4 inches in diameter, as this will give you the best chance for success.
Can you keep magnolia trees in pots?
If you don't have the right type of soil, the smaller magnolias grow well in pots. Many flower in spring, but some flower in summer. Magnolia trees and larger shrubs are ideal for growing as standalone trees, while the smaller magnolia trees such as Magnolia stellata look good in a border or make good trees for pots.
How much space does a magnolia tree need?
Plant spacing Come out from the house about 15 feet. If you're planting a row of D.D. Blanchard magnolias, place them about 10 feet apart for them to grow together - or 18 to 20 feet apart if you want each to stand alone. These trees will grow in large containers while young.
Should you mulch under a magnolia tree?
Your best option for tidying up the area is to apply a thin layer of mulch, no thicker than 3 inches, under the canopy. Keep the mulch at least 2 feet away from the trunk of the tree.
What position do magnolias like?
They are hardy, but prefer a sheltered spot and moist, well-drained soil. Some need slightly acidic or neutral conditions. Many magnolias are deciduous, losing their leaves over winter, but a few are evergreen, with dark glossy leaves all year round.
Can you plant magnolia next to fence?
It can be grown singly as a stunning feature plant in the garden or a pot, used en masse for planting along a path or driveway in a more formal style, planted closely together to form a large dense hedge, and even trained as large espaliers against a wall or fence.
Is magnolia tree good for backyard?
In the Backyard Whether you have a small or large backyard, a magnolia tree can be the perfect addition to help liven it up. Not only can it add color and character to your backyard, but it can also make it easier to maintain your tree.
How much space does a magnolia tree need?
Plant spacing Come out from the house about 15 feet. If you're planting a row of D.D. Blanchard magnolias, place them about 10 feet apart for them to grow together - or 18 to 20 feet apart if you want each to stand alone. These trees will grow in large containers while young.
How tall is a saucer magnolia?
Growing about 1-2 feet (30-60 cm.) per year, they can reach 20-30 feet (6-9 m.) tall and 20-25 feet (60-7.6 m.) wide at maturity.
How much did a saucer magnolia tree cost?
Bred by Soulange-Bodin in the 1820s, by 1840 the saucer magnolia was coveted by gardeners around the world and sold for about $8 per seedling, which was a very expensive price for a tree in those days. Today, the saucer magnolia is still one of the most popular trees in the U.S. and Europe.
When do saucer magnolias bloom?
Saucer magnolia gained its common name from the 5- to 10-inch (13 to 15 cm.) diameter, saucer-shaped flowers it bears in February-April. Exact bloom time depends on the variety and location. After a saucer magnolia’s pink-purple and white blooms fade, the tree leafs out in leathery, dark green foliage that beautifully contrasts with its smooth gray bark.
Do you need to water a saucer magnolia tree?
By its second year, however, it should only need watering in times of drought. In cooler climates, flower buds can be killed by late frost and you may end up with no flowers.
Is a saucer magnolia tree still popular?
Today, the saucer magnolia is still one of the most popular trees in the U.S. and Europe. Continue reading for more saucer magnolia information.
What is the best soil for a saucer magnolia?
It will tolerate a relatively wide range of soil pH from 5.0 to 6.5. It’s often planted along the edge of the property line in combination with evergreen shrubs where it may get lost in the crowd until the showy blooms arrive in late winter. Saucer magnolia looks good in combination with other small trees and shrubs yet it does quite well when used as a specimen or accent plant. To enhance plant growth, fertilize in late winter or early spring with a balanced fertilizer.
How tall does Magnolia x Soulangiana get?
Often it is grown as a multi-stemmed shrub or small deciduous tree. At maturity, it may reach 30′ tall and 20′ wide.
How big are magnolia leaves?
The leaves of the Magnolia grandiflora further entice homeowners into planting a magnolia tree. Large and glossy, they range from five to eight inches long (13-20 centimeters) and have a brown, velvety underside that makes them interesting in both texture and appearance. Since magnolias are evergreen, there is not a large fall drop, but rather a small, yet continual loss of leaves throughout the year.
What is espaliering magnolia?
Espaliering means pruning magnolia trees to grow in and around a trellis-type structure. You can place these types of trellised trees right up next to a house (or any other structure), provided you keep the root system, branches, and limbs of the tree under control with frequent pruning. This method of growing magnolia trees is recommended for those people who enjoy working in their gardens and yards. It is not advisable for those who want more of a maintenance-free landscape environment.
When do magnolias bloom?
It’s like a beacon of color amidst the winter landscape. The end of February through early March brings forth the gorgeous blooms of these beautifully floriferous specimen trees. Although they may go unnoticed most of the year their arrival is a burst of glory that will brighten up even the most mundane of settings. The grand display of large, lavender, pink, and white blooms is announcing that spring will soon be here!
Which state has the Magnolia tree?
Two states, Louisiana and Mississippi, have designated it as their state tree, with Mississippi also incorporating it into its nickname, the Magnolia State.
Do magnolias choke themselves?
Sometimes the roots of magnolias have a tendency to girdle or encircle themselves, which cuts off essential nutrients. The tree can literally choke itself to death. Root pruning magnolia trees before they are planted, cutting off those that appear to be growing in a circular pattern, is the best solution.
What type of soil does a saucer magnolia tree like?
The saucer magnolia can grow in soils that range from sand to loam to clay. However, its ideal soil is loamy, stays damp, and drains well. The tree prefers a slightly acidic pH level between 5.5 and 6.5. It fares best in nutrient-dense and organically rich porous soil. The plant does not do well in dry or alkaline soil.
How tall does a saucer magnolia tree grow?
The trunk is covered by smooth, silvery-gray bark and grows to a mature height between 20 and 30 feet and a spread between 15 and 25 feet. This compact size, along with its ideal spread-to-height ratio, makes it a fantastic addition to any landscape.
What is the color of the saucer magnolia?
Seeing the white-pink flowers of the saucer magnolia blooming on its bare, multi-stemmed branches before the leaves appear is truly a sight to behold.
How to maintain a tree with a rope-like root?
The roots are rope-like and thick and grow unbranched horizontally for moderate distances. To maintain the soil’s moisture level and temperature, spread mulch over the root zone around the base of the trunk. Allow for 1 to 2 inches of room between the base of the tree and the mulch.
How to shape a tree?
If you would like a tree, you must shape the plant with a stake kit to ensure that it grows upward and not outward. Stake the tree while it is still young and pliable. A more mature tree’s growth habit is harder to influence.
Do you need to prune a mature tree?
A more mature tree’s growth habit is harder to influence. The multitude of branches forms the rounded crown naturally. Very little pruning will be necessary. Keep an eye out for diseased, damaged, and dying limbs and prune them immediately.
Can saucer magnolias get fungus?
Pests and disease aren’t usually an issue for the saucer magnolia. Two fungal infections that can occur are cankers and leaf spots . Use a copper-based fungicide before they become a problem.
What is a saucer magnolia?
One of the most popular deciduous Magnolias, Magnolia x soulangeana, or Saucer Magnolia, is a spreading tree or large shrub festooned with an incredible profusion of fragrant flowers in early to mid spring. Goblet-shaped, the large flowers, up to 10 in. across (25 cm), can be white, pink, purple or red-purple. As they mature, they gracefully open their large tepals, revealing white interiors. This creates a bicolor effect which further adds to the beauty of the floral display. The blooms appear on naked branches before the obovate mid-green leaves unfurl. The foliage turns golden brown in fall, before shedding to the ground and outlining the smooth silvery bark. Growing with an upright habit when young, Saucer Magnolia becomes more rounded and broad spreading with age and is often grown as a multi-trunked shrub.
When does saucer magnolia turn golden?
The foliage turns golden brown in fall, before shedding to the ground and outlining the smooth silvery bark. Growing with an upright habit when young, Saucer Magnolia becomes more rounded and broad spreading with age and is often grown as a multi-trunked shrub.
When do magnolias bloom?
Magnolia × soulangeana (Saucer Magnolia) One of the most popular deciduous Magnolias, Magnolia x soulangeana, or Saucer Magnolia, is a spreading tree or large shrub festooned with an incredible profusion of fragrant flowers in early to mid spring.
Is Magnolia x Soulangeana a hybrid?
Magnolia x soulangeana is a hybrid Magnolia resulting from a cross between Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliiflora. It creates a very impressive scene in the garden and makes a wonderful specimen flowering shrub or small tree for the landscape. This is an excellent selection as a container plant and espalier. While very hardy, its blooms, like those of most early blooming Magnolias, are susceptible to late frosts.
How to propagate saucer magnolia?
Propagators use various methods to accomplish this, from placing them in an ice chest to inserting them in a plastic bag filled with ice. Use sharp pruning shears and remove a 4- to 6-inch cutting -- measuring from the tip of the stem toward the interior of the tree -- at a 45-degree angle. Once you remove the cutting from the tree, snip about 1/2 inch from the tip, making this cut straight across to help you distinguish the bottom from the top of the cutting.
How long does it take for a saucer magnolia to root?
Saucer magnolia cuttings root faster with heat, so Dirr suggests leaving the cutting on a heat mat set to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the cutting roots, it's important to gradually reduce the heat over the course of a week so that the newly rooted cutting doesn't go into shock. Saucer magnolia cuttings typically take from four to six weeks to root. After four weeks, give it a slight tug. If it feels stuck in the planting medium, it most likely has formed roots.
How to protect saucer magnolia cuttings?
Saucer magnolia cuttings are susceptible to various fungal pathogens so to protect them, noted horticulturist Michael Dirr suggests soaking them in a shallow tray of fungicide for an hour before planting. The fungicide will take up into the cutting, protecting it while it roots. Keep the fungicide when you remove the cuttings, as you will need it later in the process.
When do saucer magnolias bloom?
The saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) takes its name from its showy, saucer-shaped flowers that bloom in early spring in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 to 9. While the species is of hybrid origin, it is self-fertile and produces seed. The various saucer magnolia cultivars, however, require vegetative propagation, with cuttings. Wait until the terminal bud (the one at the tip of the branch) begins to open to take the saucer magnolia cutting.
How to root a cutting with a razor blade?
This is easy to do with a sharp razor blade, by slicing two 1/2-inch gashes from the bottom of the cutting toward the tip, on adjacent sides of it. A quick dip of the cutting in a cup of water and it's ready to be rolled in the rooting hormone. Ensure that you cover the entire wound on the bottom of the cutting in the powder.
What zone does a saucer magnolia grow in?
The saucer magnolia can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 4–9. View Map
What is a saucer magnolia?
A hybrid cousin of America's magnificent Southern Magnolia, the Saucer Magnolia is actually a large spreading shrub that take its name from its wide, saucer-like flowers. It was first cultivated in 1826.
How fast does a sage tree grow?
This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.
How to propagate magnolias from cuttings?
The first step in propagating magnolia trees from cuttings is to take cuttings in the summer after the buds set. Using a knife or pruner sterilized in denatured alcohol, cut 6- to 8-inch (15-20 cm.) growing tips of branches as cuttings. Place the cuttings in water as you take them.
When to air layer magnolia?
To accomplish magnolia air layering, try it in early spring on one-year-old branches or in late summer on that season’s growth.
How long does it take for a magnolia tree to grow?
Starting a magnolia tree from cuttings produces trees much faster than seedlings. Two years after you root a magnolia cutting, you may get flowers, while with a seedling, you can wait over a decade.
What is a magnolia tree?
Magnolia. By: Teo Spengler. Printer Friendly Version. Image by JensGade. Magnolias are beautiful trees with showy flowers and elegant large leaves. Some are evergreen while others lose leaves in winter. There are even pint-sized magnolias that work well in a smaller garden.
How to grow a sage plant from cuttings?
Place the cuttings in water as you take them. When you get all you need, remove all but the upper leaves of each cutting, then make a 2-inch (5 cm.) vertical slice in the stem end. Dip each stem end in a good hormone solution, and plant in small planters filled with moist perlite .
What is a saucer magnolia?
Saucer magnolias (Magnolia x soulangeana), known as highly productive bloomers and moderate growers, have flowers resembling a goblet with petals that open into a saucer-like shape – hence the common name. Saucer magnolias are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. The plants typically bloom early, and respond best to mid summer pruning.
How to cut magnolia limbs?
Undercut the magnolia limb’s stub at a moderately upward angle at the branch collar with the pole saw or handsaw. Make an overcut, ensuring it meets the undercut while maintaining the angle, to sever the stub.
