Saucer Magnolia.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous tree

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

bright-indirect

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

6 to 8 meters

Growth rate

medium

Hardiness

USDA 5 to 9

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Care

Plant this tree in a spot protected from strong winds to keep the delicate petals intact for as long as possible. Watch for late spring frosts, which can brown the early buds. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but never waterlogged to keep the roots happy.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the first few years after planting.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring before the new growth begins.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering to shape the tree and remove any dead or crossing branches.

Repotting

Repotting is rarely needed for trees planted in the ground, but container specimens need fresh soil every few years.

Soil

Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral

Temperature

-20 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 60%

Drought tolerance

moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years.

Fragrance

light

Deer and rabbits

moderate

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans, though ingestion of plant parts is not recommended.

Pets

This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Children

The large, fleshy petals can pose a choking hazard if a small child attempts to swallow them whole.

Contact allergens

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the sap.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies in sensitive people.

Edibility

While the petals are sometimes used in culinary garnishes, they can cause digestive upset if consumed in large quantities.

How to identify it

• Large goblet shaped spring flowers
• Smooth gray bark on mature trunks
• Broad obovate dark green leaves
• Flowers appear before leaves emerge

Height

4.5 to 7.5m

Spread

4.5 to 7.5m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

pink, white, purple, 10 to 25cm

Common problems

• Scale insects — These small sap-sucking insects can weaken branches and cause sooty mold.
• Magnolia scale — A specific type of scale that produces large amounts of honeydew.
• Leaf spot — Fungal infections that cause discolored patches on foliage during wet weather.

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, grafting

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

Apply a thick layer of mulch around the root zone to protect against soil temperature fluctuations. No pruning is needed during winter.

In containers

It is generally too large for long-term container growth, though young specimens can thrive in a very large tub for a few years.

Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds without disturbing the shallow roots.

Grows well with

• Hosta — These shade-loving perennials thrive under the canopy of a saucer magnolia.
• Bleeding Heart — Their delicate foliage complements the early spring blooms of the tree.

Keep away from

• Turf grass — Grass competes for nutrients and water directly beneath the shallow root system.

Similar species

• Star Magnolia — It is a smaller, more compact relative with star-shaped flowers.
• Lily Magnolia — It is one of the parent species and features more upright, lily-like blooms.

Science

Family

Magnoliaceae

Genus

Magnolia

Order

Magnoliales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

This is a garden hybrid of Asian parentage.

Conservation

This is a cultivated garden hybrid and is not of conservation concern in the wild.

It thrives in temperate garden settings with rich, slightly acidic soil and consistent moisture.

Value to wildlife

early nectar source

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Uses

ornamental specimen tree, spring focal point

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my flower buds turning brown?

This is usually caused by a late frost damaging the delicate tissues before they open.

How large does it get?

It typically grows to a height of 15 to 25 feet with a similar spread.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors French botanist Pierre Magnol, while the species name commemorates the hybridizer Étienne Soulange-Bodin.

Good to know

• It is a cross between Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliiflora.
• The flowers often appear before the leaves emerge in early spring.
• It is commonly known as the saucer magnolia due to its large, bowl-shaped blooms.
• The flowers are highly susceptible to damage from late spring frosts.