Description

Magnolia "Massey Rose" is a compact, deciduous shrub with an erect stem and spreading branches with elongated, oval leaves which grows from 3 to 4.5 metres high and wide. It produces fragrant, rich pink, star-like shaped flowers with reflexed petals before the leaves emerge in late winter/early spring. It will flower from an early age. It is a variety that is frost, drought and wind tender but copes quite well in colder locations.

Magnolia "Merril" is a hybrid cross variety between M. kobus and a pink form of M. stellata which grows to 9 metres tall by 8 metres wide. It is a medium size, deciduous shrub with blunt dark to paler-green leaves and produces large white many petalled flowers, faintly flushed pink before and after the leaves emerge in late winter/early spring. It is a variety that is frost resistant but drought tender and copes quite well in colder locations.

Magnolia "Nigra" is a medium size deciduous shrub which grows from 3 to 4.5 metres high and wide with an erect and branching stem which produces mid to dark green leaves, downy on the undersides tapering to a point. It produces fragrant, large, dark wine, purple flowers that are pale purple inside and are borne among the leaves from mid-spring to mid-summer. It is a variety that is frost resistant but drought tender.

Magnolia "Exmouth" is a large conical shaped tree which produces flowers from an early age in life. It is a cultivated evergreen Magnolia which forms a dense 18 to 24 metre dome of deep green leathery leaves which are rust coloured underneath. It produces large, fragrant creamy-white ‘cup’ shaped flowers in late summer, followed by cucumber-like pods containing brilliant red seeds. It is one of the hardier varieties that is frost resistant but drought tender and is able to cope quite well in colder locations.

Cultivation

Massey Rose adapts to most soils which are deep, fertile and well drained. Exmouth prefers neutral to acid soils which are deep, fertile and well drained. Merril adapts to most soils which are mildly acidic to neutral and deep, fertile and well drained. Nigra prefers light to medium acidic soils which are deep, fertile and well drained.

An application of lime at planting will assist in meeting its soil ph requirement. Plant in a sunny, well prepared and protected position away from strong winds. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball. Ensure that the soil is no higher on the trunk, than it was in the pot. When planting, mix in some complete fertiliser and top dress annually in spring. Water once a week until the plant is established. If rainfall is low during growing and flowering, apply water once a week.