A beautiful magnolia is the talk of the town! Full with sumptuous star-like flowers during its blooming period, magnolia trees can sport pale white blooms through to pink or deep magenta, and sometimes yellow. With the right growing settings, magnolias will be able to thrive and bloom before your very eyes. They make excellent specimen trees and some varieties can even be trained to grow against a wall. From the popular Soulangeana to Grandiflora and evergreen magnolia trees, you’ll most certainly want one of these showstoppers in your garden.
How to Plant a Magnolia Tree
Typically, magnolia trees are planted in the ground, but the smaller more compact varieties can be grown in planters. See our table below to discover the optimal growing conditions for Magnolia trees.
| Light preference | Soil type | Water requirements |
| Full sun, sheltered position | Slightly acidic or neutral soil | Moist, well drained soil |
If you don’t have these exact conditions in your garden, don’t fear! You can still achieve a healthy magnolia in other conditions but you’ll need to choose your variety wisely. Below are some alternatives that may be better suited to your garden needs, depending on your condition types.
| Dappled shade | M. wilsonii and M. sieboldii |
| Dry, alkaline soil | Magnolia grandiflora and M. delavayi |
| Moist, alkaline soil | M. kobus, M. x loebneri, M. sieboldii, M. stellata, M. wilsonii |
| Wet soil | M. grandiflora and M. virginiana |
When growing magnolias, there are a few things that we recommend you keep in mind.
- You may need to add tree stakes when planting into the ground, even if the tree is quite mature.
- Frost can be detrimental to magnolia flowers and evergreen foliage so take steps to protect your tree if you can.
- If you’ve decided to train your tree against a wall, then opt for a warmer wall as opposed to a cold wall if possible.
Wall-training magnolias
Certain varieties will thrive when growing against a wall. For example, M. grandiflora is a great choice to wall-train but be sure to choose a warm and sunny wall.
To wall train a magnolia tree follow these steps:
- Attach supports to the wall such as a trellis or wires laid horizontally. Tie the branches at a 45-degree angle then lower them to horizontal in the next season.
- During the hotter months, remove any shoots growing towards the wall and prune any outward growing shoots to one or two leaves. If the shoots bear buds then delay pruning until after flowering.
When to Plant Magnolia Trees in the UK
Most UK garden centres will sell magnolias all year round but they’re generally best suited to being planted between autumn and spring when the ground isn’t frozen.
When to Prune Magnolia
When to prune your magnolia tree depends on whether it’s a deciduous or an evergreen variety.
Deciduous magnolia
The best time to prune your deciduous magnolia is during late summer. If you prune at a different time of year, you may find your tree is more liable to bleed sap. To keep the tree healthy, remove any dead or damaged wood and prune it sparingly.
Evergreen magnolia
Little pruning is required for evergreen varieties as they generally keep their leaves all year round. We recommend only pruning unhealthy or dead parts of the tree, pruning to shape young trees after planting or reshaping overgrown trees.
Wall-trained magnolia
The best time to prune a wall-trained magnolia is during summer after they have finished flowering. Do not prune any branches that have flowers or buds on, wait until immediately after they have flowered.
How to Prune Magnolia
Make sure to prune your magnolia with sharp secateurs or a pruning saw. You’ll likely need a sturdy step ladder too, depending on how tall your tree has grown.
Deciduous magnolia
- When the tree is young, prune any branches that may cause a bad overall shape or any weaker looking branches.
- Mature trees may produce vertical shoots (water shoots), remove these by pruning back to a natural fork of the branch.
- Only prune between mid-summer and early autumn.
- In the first few years after planting, only prune damaged or dead branches, or prune to reshape.
Evergreen magnolia
- Young trees shouldn’t really need a pruning, unless you need to clear the trunk to remove lower branches.
- Prune any damaged growth or prune to improve the shape.
- Only prune evergreen magnolias in spring as the growth starts.
Wall-trained magnolia
- Prune your wall-trained tree in the summer, immediately after its finished flowering.
- Remove stems that are heading towards the wall. Shorten any stems that grow away from the wall.
When Do Magnolias Flower
Magnolias can bloom any time between February and June, depending on which variety you have. Deciduous magnolias are usually the first bloomers of the year, flowering in early spring. The latest flowering varieties can flower into late summer.
How Fast Does a Magnolia Tree Grow
Often seen as a long term investment due to their slow growing nature, magnolias can take 10-20 years to reach their ultimate size. However the good news is that once they’ve settled in, they don’t require too much maintenance. This may not be the case with container grown trees as they’ll require regular watering and feeding.
We recommend feeding your newly planted tree (whether in ground or container) at least annually to give it the best chances of growing strong. Scatter fertiliser around the base of the tree in late winter. If your tree shows signs of poor growth or flowering, or if you know your soil isn’t the best, give them a helping hand with extra feed. Always read your fertiliser instructions as products may vary.
Every Spring or Autumn, mulch the roots of your tree with a thick layer of organic matter. Mulching will help keep the roots healthy by keeping moisture in the soil. Be sure to leave a gap free of mulch around the base of the trunk to avoid bark rot.
When to Take Magnolia Cuttings
Growing magnolias from cuttings is usually much faster than growing trees from seedlings. If you’re lucky, you may get flowers from a cutting within two years, while with a seedling, you could have to wait over a decade.
Bear in mind that a large proportion of cuttings won’t succeed so it may take a few attempts. Take softwood cuttings from deciduous trees in early summer and take semi-ripe cuttings from evergreen varieties in late summer and autumn.
Where to Buy Magnolia Trees
At Primrose, we stock a variety of Magnolia trees that can be easily delivered to your home. Whether you’re looking for an elegant white magnolia or a beautiful pink tree, we have a wide range for you to choose from. Explore our trees today and you’ll be sure to find a favourite that’ll be a stunning addition to your outdoor space.