Garden Photo of the Day

Venerable Magnolias at Hortus, Part 2

The many wonderful shapes, sizes, colors and habits of the wonderful magnolia tree

By GPOD Contributor
close up of brown and green foliage on magnolia

Hi GPODers!

We’re continuing our deep-dive into magnolias with Allyson Levy of Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens today. Be sure to check out Part 1 if you missed it yesterday, as it gives a great introduction to magnolias and tells the story of why these beautiful trees hold a special meaning to Allyson. If you’re ready to see more of the spectacular array of diverse magnolias that call Hortus home, keep on scrolling.

The genus magnolia is one of only two genera in the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae); the other is tulip poplar (Liriodendron spp.), which has two species, while there are about 220 species of magnolias. Thank you to all the botanists and breeders responsible for hybridizing the different species and cultivars. Because of their efforts, there is a gorgeous variety of flower colors, sizes, and shapes.

deep pink magnolia bloom in early spring
Flowers range from full tulip-like blooms on Genie magnolia (M. × ‘Genie’, Zones 4–9) (above) to trees that produce floppy flowers the size of a dinner plate like bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla, Zones 5–8). Others, like Siebold’s magnolia (M. sieboldii, Zones 6–8), have small upside-down facing flowers that invite a closer view, even if it’s on your knees, to look up at them.

deep pink magnolia in full bloom
‘Genie’ displaying beautiful cup-like, rich maroon colored flowers.

gardener next to giant magnolia bloom and leaf
Using me for scale, one can easily see why the common name for this native tree is bigleaf magnolia. It could also be bigflower magnolia, too!

white magnolia flower facing down
Magnolia sieboldi has small downward-facing flowers throughout most of summer.

close up of magnolia with multi-colored petals
Breeding has also produced a wide color palette, with solid colors of whites, yellows, pinks, reds, and purples. Many magnolia species and hybrids are also stained with multiple colors, like the slow-growing (but so worth it) Woodsman magnolia (M. × brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’, Zones 5–9) (above). This tree starts with very dark purple, almost black flower buds, which then opens to reveal pinks, yellows, and purple tepals all at the same time.

magnolia with purple flowers
Compared to ‘Black Beauty’ magnolia (M. × brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’, Zones 5–9) that produces very dark, almost black flower buds but dark purple flowers.

magnolia with brown and green leaves
All magnolias have alternate, entire (smooth-edged) leaves, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Leaves vary from hairy to smooth and can be small or huge. Bigleaf magnolia trees produce the largest simple leaf in North America, occasionally spanning up to three feet! While some magnolias are deciduous, others produce leaves that remain on the tree throughout winter, such as the Bracken’s Brown Beauty magnolia (M. grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’, Zones 5–9) (above), with glossy dark green upper leaves and a stunning brown felted underside, like a miniature fuzzy blanket for the leaf’s bottom.

close up of brown and green foliage on magnolia
The glorious coloration of the evergreen leaves on the Southern magnolia ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’. (Photo taken February 1st, 2025.)

Thank you so much for another educational and inspiration submission, Allyson! As we inch closer to spring, I eagerly anticipate the first bursts of color that so many flowering trees give us early in the season. Your information has given me a whole new perspective on the magnolias I will soon seen in full bloom at the edge of driveways near me.

Do you have a flowering tree (or a few) that you can’t wait to see put on its springtime show? If you have pictures from last year’s display, let’s get a taste of spring color on the blog before we have to wait to see it in real life any longer! Share your spring garden photos from last year by following the directions below, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

The Crevice Garden: How to make the perfect home for plants from rocky places

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

A crevice garden replicates the environmental conditions of mountain tops, deserts, coastlines, and other exposed or rocky places on earth. These striking garden features provide perfect conditions for the plants native to these far-off places, bringing the cultivation of these precious gems within everybody’s reach.
Buy at Amazon

Corona E-Grip Trowel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Handle Material: Aluminum. Handle Length: 14-1/2 in. Overall Length: 14.5 in. Head Material: Aluminum. Handle Color: Red.
Buy at Amazon

Johnny’s Selected Seeds Connecta® Cultivation Kit

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Choose the right tool head for the job and switch out quickly with a simple push-button release. Includes the Connecta receiver, Connecta Collinear 4 head, Connecta Collinear 7 head, Connecta Contour Wire 4 head, Connecta Contour Wire 6 head, a sustainably harvested oiled ashwood handle, and a stainless-steel carrying clip.
Buy at Johnny's Selected Seeds
X
View 3 comments

Comments

  1. User avater
    musabasjoosue 02/25/2025

    Genie is such a beautiful Magnolia. Looking to add either M. macrophylla or M. ashei to the garden this season. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 02/25/2025

    Love magnolias.

  3. btucker9675 02/25/2025

    Love me some magnolias!!! I have a Little Gem - height without width - and a tulip variety that I can't remember the name of now. Everything about these trees is lovely.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Gardening Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 2025

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show your love and appreciation than with a gift that nurtures her passion for the garden? Whether she’s…
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants
Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers  

If your pulse quickens at the sight of a dogwood or peony in full bloom, this is the episode for you. Although a restrained, foliage-focused design is always a safe…
How-To
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard

Invasive plants aren’t just unsightly weeds with bad manners. They can cause serious ecological damage, threaten biodiversity, and even put human health and safety at risk. These nonnative species are…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
How-To

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers  
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 178: Best Interview Moments from Let's Argue About Plants