Magnolia x brooklynensis 'WOODSMAN' magnolia

Woodsman is more than a lumberjack. In a broader sense, he's also someone who takes care of the forest and its trees, not seeing them as a commodity. He loves and appreciates them. People connected with occupations such as woodsman or lumberjack are often described in a manly manner which nowadays may sound sexist but hey, do you know of a better term to be fair? 😊. Ok, let’s go for rugged. Which is exactly what this magnolia is, after all. How come? Just take a look – I mean, the flowers are beautiful, but sort of rugged, no room for tenderness there.

It belongs to the group of Brooklyn hybrids, although it was bred by J. C. McDaniel from Illinois. It is a cross between M. acuminata 'Klassen' and M. liliiflora 'O’Neill' and it was registered in 1974. Still today, it is a sought-after gem for its unique flower colour. On the outside, they are pastel rosy pink, and the outer petals are up to 80% covered with a sandy beige colour that transitions to green closer to the calyx. Inside, they are almost white and have a peculiar fragrance. They are firm, quite large, and their shape is somewhere between a tulip and a lily. Same as money other flowering shrubs, Woodsman magnolia, too, needs a few years to establish and to deepen its flower colour – young plants usually have much paler flowers.

Since Woodsman is a late variety, it blooms simultaneously with the leaves and almost always avoids late frosts. The deciduous leaves are large, firm, medium green, and broadly oval to ovate. The plant grows rather slowly into an upright and dense shrub and is very floriferous. Its mature height of around 4 meters can be expected in about 30-40 years and blooms from young age.

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 abt. -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 14-01-2025