Magnolia x soulangeana 'RUSTICA RUBRA' saucer magnolia, tulip tree

Based on the successful crossing of saucer magnolia a new variety was bred at the end of the 19th centutry. Its name is Rustica Rubra or just Rubra and comes from the nursery town Boskoop in the Netherlands.

The beautifully scented flowers are goblet- to saucer-shaped, bright purplish red outside and white inside. Flower buds are quite large and fuzzy, and appear on the plant in late summer the previous year. It starts blooming when 6-8 years old and since then blooms profusely and reliably every year.

Leaves are mid to deep green, stiff and slightly wavy. Fully leaved magnolias are the densest deciduous broadleaved shrubs. It blooms a couple of weeks later than the species, but still we suggest planting it in a position that is not the warmest in your garden to avoid premature flowering and thus escaping damage by mid-spring frosts.

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 -27° or 29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update: 19-01-2009