Saucer / Tulip Magnolia Trees

Saucer Magnolia Trees: Magnolia x soulangeana

A popular, low maintenance, slow growing small tree covered with lovely big purple, pink and white flowers in April, immediately before the leaves, lasting into May. The new foliage has light hints of bronze, matures to lush green and then faded yellow in autumn. To 6m x 5m after about 20 years.

Browse all of our ornamental trees, or our other trees for small gardens.

Features:

• Most popular variety in the UK
• Big pink & white flowers in Apr-May
• Low maintenance, naturally tidy & slow growing
• Suitable for small gardens
• Hardy, but sheltered locations are best, especially in the North & Scotland
• To 6m x 5m

Growing Saucer Magnolia

The best soil is neutral or acidic, well drained, and slightly on the sandy side, but not prone to drying out in summer. They will tolerate most alkaline soils (shallow chalk may be a bit too much), but improve them well with organic matter and water well during hot summers.

The tree itself is fully hardy, but late spring frosts or strong winds can damage the flowers, so a sheltered location is best, especially in the North & Scotland.

The roots are quite shallow and delicate, so it is important not to trample the soil under the canopy and for about half a metre around it.

Did You Know?

Bred from M. denudata and M. liliiflora in 1820 by Étienne Soulange-Bodin (1774–1846), a cavalry officer who continued the struggle against perfidious Albion after Napoleon's defeat through horticultural means, with the intention to humble Kew Gardens before the sublime plant collection at his château de Fromont.