Magnolia 'STAR WARS' magnolia

Star Wars is a luxury gem among magnolias. It is a cross between m. campbellii and m. liliiflora producing extra-large, brilliant pink flowers that are 20-25 cm across and sweetly fragrant. They open in April and bloom for an extended period of almost 5 weeks. It grows moderately to fast into a spreading, dome-shaped, well-branched, and freely flowering shrub or small tree about 4 m tall and wide. Deciduous leaves are obovate, large, partially glossy, medium green.

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 to min. -25 °C (USDA zone 5b-6).

Last update 09-12-2020