The 10 best magnolias for small gardens, and where to see the most stunning displays
Magnolias are magnificent plants, with thickly textured tepals resembling the sort of heavy satin normally worn by upmarket brides and debutantes of old. This ancient group of plants evolved some 95 million years ago, long before flying pollinators graced our planet, so their scented, oil-infused flowers had to rely on attracting plant-hungry beetles instead. They pollinated the flowers as they devoured the protein-rich anthers, so the middle of a magnolia flower is just as exuberant as the showy tepals.
The start of the magnolia season begins in mid February in the mild south-western corner of England and it is carefully calculated: there have to be six champion Magnolia campbellii trees, each bearing 50 flowers or more, to mark the beginning. This Himalayan native was introduced in 1855 and it takes an average of 30 years to flower from seed. You wouldn’t want this one in your own garden, impressive though the huge flowers are, because it’s a giant.
Thankfully, modern plant breeding and selection, especially in New Zealand and America, have produced compact hybrid magnolias that slot into smaller gardens with ease and flower when young. These make perfect garden specimens and they’re very hardy, although the buds and flowers are frost-prone so careful thought must be given to planting position. A slope is perfect, because the cold air sinks downhill. Magnolias are also willing to grow on neutral soil: “It’s a garden myth that magnolias must have acid soil and it definitely puts people off,” says expert Nick Dunn who propagates 40 named magnolias at his third-generation nursery, Frank P Matthews, in Worcestershire.
10 of the best garden-hybrid magnolias
‘Livingstone’
A vibrant, purple-red, April-flowering New Zealand-bred hybrid involving M. sprengeri ‘Diva’ x M. ‘Vulcan’. It’s more floriferous and hardier than the darker ‘Black Tulip’ and it forms a small upright tree. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 3m.
‘Daybreak’ AGM
This later-flowering 1990s hybrid, between M. brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x M. ‘Tina Durio’, has rose-pink flowers. The eight or so tepals splay widely and the flowers are highly scented. It forms a small-to-medium pyramidal tree with a twiggy profile and fissured bark. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 3m.
‘Heaven Scent’ AGM
The dark foliage of this tree highlights its pale flowers, which are heavily flushed with rose-purple. It is grown for its exceptional scent. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 4m.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ AGM
Twelve strappy lilac-pink tepals, inherited from Magnolia stellata, allow cold air to slip through. Magnolias with gappy flowers often escape being browned by frost. Lots of flower on this slower-growing hybrid. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 4m.
‘Eskimo’
There’s a haze of light lavender-pink overlaying the white tepals on this American-bred hybrid, although flowers appear cool white from afar. It’s named for its frost hardiness, so if you have a cool garden, go for this one. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 3m.
‘Galaxy’ AGM
This American 1963 hybrid has pink-red tulip-shaped flowers in late spring and it’s considered better than the commonly grown M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’, which is one of its parents. It flowers when very young. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 3m.
‘Cleopatra’
There’s a silver sheen to the rose-pink-to-purple flowers, which are highlighted by fresh-green foliage. It flowers early and it’s perfect for a smaller garden, although this conical tree will need a sheltered site. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 2m.
‘Spectrum’ AGM
The name comes from the large dark-veined rose-pink outer petals, which open to display paler cream-pink inners in April. A sister to ‘Galaxy’, although not as hardy. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 2m.
‘Shirazz’
The rich burgundy-red tulip-shaped flowers open wide to form bowl-shaped saucers, displaying the paler pink inners, so the April flowers look larger and more impressive on this small tree. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 2m.
‘Lois’ AGM
Yellow-flowered magnolias produce later flowers, often in May, so they generally avoid frost damage. The flowers of ‘Lois’ keep their primrose-yellow colour and many consider this the finest yellow for that very reason. Height and spread after 10 years: 4m x 3m.
