Magnolia x soulangeana saucer magnolia, tulip tree

It was in 1826 when the very first bloom of this famous saucer magnolia came into the world. It was bred by French botanist Etienne Soulange-Bodin who 6 years before that success made a cross between m.denudata and m.liliflora. It blooms on bare branches with beautifully scented, goblet- or saucer-shaped flowers that are white inside and light pink or light ruby coloured on the outside. 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. When in full leaf magnolias are the densest deciduous broadleaved shrubs. Unlike its parents it flowers very early, we therefore 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. The soil must be rich in organic matter, slightly acidic, definitely lime-free, always moist but not wet, permeable and preferably light (add peat). It needs to be mulched in summer to retain as much moisture as possible. Bear in mind that this magnolia will be a substantially large shrub. Fully hardy to USDA zone 5.