PUSHING THE BORDERS

I've always fancied growing some magnolia's but didn't have any space at the old garden. Now I have the space with the new garden I've treated myself to a few. I've kept away from the soulangeana types and gone for later flowering/scented/evergreen plants which will hopefully provide something different in leaf and flower form.

So far I've got;

M. Grandiflora 'Little Gem'
M. Grandiflora 'Blanchard'
M. Delavayi
M. Hypoleuca (Obovata)
M. sieboldii x macrophylla subsp. ashei
M. x Wieseneri 'Aashild Kalleberg'
M. Gold Star
M. Yellow river

Has anyone got much experience in growing any of these? grandiflora types are widely grown but the others you don't see so much. I think I've read somewhere that Hypoleuca takes many years to flower but is worth it in the end for its fragrance. All are still fairly small so it will be a few years before I get any flowers but hopefully there will give me many years of interest.

M grandiflora (Exmouth) here flowers from August till around Christmas, I am sure it would do even better with some summer warmth. grows much better if it doesn't dry out and the root system spreads just below the surface for many feet in all directions so be careful gardening near them

Hi Jon,

Was there a reason you went for the M. sieboldii x macrophylla subsp. ashei rather than the straight ashei, was it just a case of availability?

I'm looking for an ashei myself, so I know they're not easy to come by, but I've also been recommended the M. sieboldii x macrophylla subsp. ashei as a "better" alternative.

Cheers

Jonboy

Jonboy - it was basically what was available at the time but also liked the sound of of what it offered in the way of plant characteristics (leaf size and flower scent). Whether it will turn out how I expect is another thing :D

Why was it recommended to you as a better alternative?

I only have stellata here but its a picture right now.

I wanted a big leaf Magnolia and I was advised to try a Tripetala. I have to say I was more than glad I bought it. It has massive leaves for a smallish plant ( 7ft at the moment) its also pretty fast growing too.

Jon,

Here's the advice I received from a Magnolia specialist, when I enquired about the Ashei.

"However, I would say that this hybrid (M. sieboldii x macrophylla subsp. ashei) has significantly better flowers than ashei, particularly in cooler climates such as ours (by comparison with ashei's natural habitat) but that the foliage is not as large. Bear in mind that the large leaves of macrophylla or tripetala need a very sheltered site in order to look good."

Jonboy