Star magnolia.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous shrub

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

10 to 15 feet

Growth rate

Slow

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot that gets plenty of morning sun and stays protected from harsh afternoon heat. Keep an eye on the soil moisture, as it prefers to stay consistently damp but not soggy. If you notice the leaves yellowing or the edges turning brown, check your soil drainage.

Watering

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

Feeding

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring just as new growth begins.

Pruning

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

Repotting

If grown in a container, move to a slightly larger pot every few years to refresh the soil.

Soil

Moist, acidic, well draining soil

Soil pH

5.0 to 6.5

Temperature

-28 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years

Fragrance

Light

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

This plant is generally considered non-toxic to humans.

Children

The plant is not inherently dangerous, but the small woody fruits could pose a minor choking hazard if ingested.

Contact allergens

Handling the bark or leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies in some people.

Edibility

The plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

• Star shaped white or pink flowers
• Many narrow, ribbon like petals
• Blooms on bare branches in spring
• Oval shaped, dark green leaves
• Gray, smooth bark texture

Height

3 to 4.5m

Spread

3 to 4.5m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, pink, 7 to 10cm

Fruit

red, late summer

Problems to watch for

• Magnolia scale · Small insects that suck sap from branches and can cause stunted growth.
• Leaf spot · Fungal infections that cause dark spots on foliage during wet seasons.

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, seed, layering

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

Apply a layer of mulch around the base to protect the roots from extreme temperature fluctuations. No special covering is needed for the branches.

In containers

It can be grown in a large container for several years, but eventually prefers being planted in the ground.

Plant shallow-rooted perennials beneath the magnolia to keep the soil cool and moist without disturbing the tree's sensitive roots.

Grows well with

• Hosta · They thrive in the same moist, shady conditions beneath the magnolia canopy.
• Bleeding Heart · Their delicate spring flowers complement the star magnolia blooms.

Similar species

• Saucer Magnolia · It is a larger, more common hybrid with cup-shaped flowers.

Science

Family

Magnoliaceae

Genus

Magnolia

Order

Magnoliales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Japan

Conservation

This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

It naturally grows in moist, wooded areas where it benefits from dappled sunlight.

Value to wildlife

early nectar source

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Uses

ornamental shrub, specimen plant, spring garden focal point

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my buds turning brown?

A late spring frost often kills the early-emerging flower buds.

Does it need pruning?

Only prune to remove dead or crossing branches immediately after flowering.

Where the name comes from

The name stellata means star-like, referring to the shape of the flowers, while Magnolia honors French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Good to know

• It is native to Japan.
• The flowers have many strap-like petals that give them a star-like appearance.
• It grows very slowly compared to other magnolia species.