Outstanding Features:
Showy, large, white early spring flowers.

Description:
Height: 8-12'
Width: 8-10'
Hardiness Zone: 4b

Star Magnolia is a dense large shrub or small tree that is grown primarily for its extremely showy pure white flowers. It blooms in early spring before the leaves emerge. The large white flowers open to a spread of 3" and can entirely cover the plant when in full bloom. Leaves are 1 1/2" wide and 2 - 4" long. Leaf color is an attractive medium to dark green in summer and turns yellow in fall. Plant form is oval to round headed.

Requirements and Culture:
Needs a good loam soil with ample moisture. In northern areas, Star Magnolia should be planted in protected microclimates since they're marginally hardy.

Limitations:
Flower buds are marginally cold hardy in northern areas. Flower buds are also often killed by frost since they bloom very early in the spring season. Not tolerant of high soil pH. No serious insect or disease problems.

Selected Cultivars:

'Royal Star'- has large white flowers. It blooms slightly later than the species.

'Waterlily' - buds pink, open to white. Plant more upright and shrub-like than the species.

M. x loebneri - Loebner Magnolia is similar to Star Magnolia but grows larger (Ht. 20-25'). Cultivars include `Leonard Messel' and `Merrill'.

Photo Credit: 1 & 2 MLA; 3 E. Hasselkus.

Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern States Power Company

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