Magnolia tripetala umbrella magnolia
size/type
taller shrub,taller shrub
usual height
6-10m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May-June
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Description of the plant:
Umbrella magnolia is a unique plant of its species. It is quite unusual though easy to grow. Its main feature are exotic-looking, large leaves that can grow 30-45 cm long. Their colour is mid-green flashed with bronze from spring to early summer. They are soft and slightly hairy beneath, crowded at the branch tip making an umbrella appearance.Flowers are creamy-white and come out along with the leaves. They are large and smell much better from a distance rather than up close. They are followed by bright pink, cone-shaped fruit at the end of summer until the autumn.
This is supposed to be a fast-growing small tree, however, we experienced a moderate or even slow growth in common garden soil conditions. It is usually multi-stemmed with erect upright branches. The canopy looks like an umbrella only thanks to the large leaves. It has no resemblance to umbrella in winter. Old wood and even a few years old branches dislikes cutting. They are concave and prone to fungi diseases when filled with water.
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 to 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 very important top roots that absorb maximum moisture and nutrients from the soil. Also avoid planting magnolia too deep. Thus you could be digging its grave. It is fully hardy to USDA zone 5. Just make sure it is not in a too exposed windy area. We still recommend mulching it well to keep it moist in any season.
Last update 31-01-2008.
WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR PLANT?
Goods are shipped all over Europe. For Russia and U.K. and for further details please read about SHIPPING OPTIONS HERE.
Are you interested in a serious discount for orders NOV-FEB? Check your options here.
THE PRICES INCLUDE VAT of 15%. For quick conversion you can use 1 CZK = approx. 0.04 EUR
GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
