Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture at a depth of 2 inches.
- Examine the recent history of fertilizer applications.
- Look for signs of heat stress during the hottest part of the day.
Likely causes
Drought Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy, especially during hot summer months. This happens when the plant cannot pull enough water to the leaf edges.
What to do: Water your magnolia deeply once every 5 to 10 days during dry periods. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture.
Fertilizer Burn
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown shortly after you apply fertilizer. This is caused by an excess of salts in the soil that dehydrate the roots.
What to do: Flush the soil around the base of the plant with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing again until the plant shows signs of new, healthy growth.
Find out what's wrong with your star magnolia
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Worry if the browning moves from the tips into the main body of the leaf. It is normal to see slight browning on the very edges during an exceptionally hot or dry summer.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid over fertilizing your magnolia.
Star magnolia: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your star magnolia and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I trim off the brown tips?
- You can trim them for aesthetic reasons if you like. Use clean, sharp scissors and cut just outside the green tissue.
- Does humidity affect my magnolia?
- Star magnolias prefer moderate humidity. In very dry climates, they are more prone to tip browning if not watered regularly.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Star magnolia
- Why are there dark spots on my Star magnolia leaves?
- What are these bumps on my Star magnolia branches?
- Why is my Star magnolia not producing flowers?
- Why are my Star magnolia leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Star magnolia drooping?
- Why is my Star magnolia losing its leaves?
- How do I fix root rot in my Star magnolia?
Back to the Star magnolia guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.