CONSIDERING A STAR MAGNOLIA FOR YOUR GARDEN OASIS?
If you would like breathtaking spring beauty in your garden after the dreary winter, the Star Magnolia is your shrub.
The large white, or pink, flowers make their grand entrance in early spring before their leaves have appeared. All you see is the supporting structure of the shrub….trunk and branches decorated with the magnificent 7-10cm (3-4 inch) flowers with velvet looking petals. Once the flowers have completed their show, they drop off leaving room for the leaves to take over. The leaves emerge in a bronze-green color, transforming to a dark green as the season progresses. Being a deciduous shrub, the leaves turn yellow in autumn, then drop off leaving the shrub bare.
The Star Magnolia, species Magnolia stellate, is rated for growing zones 5 – 8 and prefers full sun to partial shade exposure. It is a slow growing shrub but will grow to 15 – 20 feet high with a 10 – 15 foot spread. The root system does spread as they search for water. They require slightly acidic, loose, well-draining soil as the Star Magnolia does not like its “feet” (roots) wet. It is rated as a deer resistant shrub but be aware that this is not a 100% guarantee with any vegetation.
I have had the Star Magnolia in my own gardens and highly recommend it. Every spring I anxiously awaited the spring day when my Star Magnolia’s first blossoms opened up revealing their pure white flowers.