Magnolia 'JUDY ZUK' magnolia

Judith D. Zuk (1951-2007) was an American horticulturist and conservationist, a graduate of the prestigious Rutgers University, where many beautiful plants are bred, several of which have reached us, too. From 1990 to 2005, she served as president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and during her tenure, she managed to raise significant funds for its expansion and the renovation of outdated areas. Upon her retirement in 2005, one of the latest magnolia hybrids was named Judy Zuk in her honour.

Judy Zuk magnolia is a hybrid between M. acuminata, M. liliiflora, and M. stellata and was introduced in 2007. It is a relatively slender variety that bears the traits of all its parents – a bit of everything: the yellow flower colour comes from M. acuminata, its pink hues from M. liliiflora, and the elongated petal shape from M. stellata. The flower colour is intriguingly variable –there are pale purple to pink flames on a yellow base and a green patina on the petal exterior. The flower is more lily-like, large, with a spread of 20-25 cm in full bloom and reportedly up to 30 cm on older plants. They bloom from around mid-April along with emerging leaves. The leaves are deciduous, bright green, shortly obovate, and 15-25 cm long.

Magnolias are not supposed to be pruned. You can prune old shrubs if ill, or trim them to shape or to reduce size, or make an elementary cut to young plants of unsightly or unhealthy appearance. Do this as soon as possible after flowering to secure setting of flower buds for the following year. Be aware that each magnolia can respond differently to pruning.

Deciduous magnolias are quite easy plants. All they need is light, well-drained, acidic soil with equal moisture throughout the year. Once established they can do with occasional drought but will not look as nice as the ones with regular watering. Just pay attention to how you plant your magnolia. First, find it a spot where it will live forever and ever. It does not like transplanting. And as it makes shallow roots reaching well over its spread, stay away from disturbing the roots by digging or messing about around it. Just cover the soil with bark mulch and do not plant anything else near it after say the second year after planting onwards. You could damage the important top roots that absorb maximum moisture and nutrients from the soil. Also avoid planting magnolia too deep. Thus, you could be digging it a grave. Hardy is abt. -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 10-01-2025