Contents:
- Magnolia species
- Growing magnolia
Most species of magnolia grow in China, where the tradition of their cultivation reaches over 2.5 thousand. years.The first magnolias were brought to Europe in the 17th century, and they came to Poland in the next century.Currently, thanks to numerous breeding work, a number of valuable varieties have been obtained, adapted to cultivation in the climatic conditions of Poland.
In practical terms, magnolias can be divided into two groups: species and varieties with permanent foliage, and plants with shedding leaves for winter. Magnolias with evergreen leaves, resembling ficus leaves, in the climatic conditions of Poland are virtually unheard of due to incomplete frost resistance and freezing during winter.Magnolias shedding leaves on winter are much more frost resistant and are mostly suitable for cultivation in our country.
Among them, the varieties derived from the Soulange magnolia, called the intermediate, are commonly known. The most beautiful are certainly 'Alexandrina', 'Lennei', 'Lennei Alba' and 'Rustica Rubra'. They are all small trees that form numerous, very large flowers that open before the leaves develop.
The most valuable varieties of magnolia commercially available today are hybrids bred in the 1950s in the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington by Francis de Vos and William Kosar.The common features of the obtained varieties, covered by the group name Eight Little Girls, are small size and compact shrubs, their high frost resistance and dark color of flowers.
In addition, the plants bloom at a later date, which in our climatic conditions significantly reduces the risk of damage to already developed flowers by spring frosts, and they repeat flowering in summer. Thanks to these characteristics, strains from the Eight Little Girls group bearing the names of 8 American girls: 'Ann', 'Betty', 'Jane', 'Judy', 'Pinkie', 'Randy', 'Ricki', 'Susan' have become extremely popular and available in nurseries around the world.
Another group of new varieties that are gaining more and more popularity are magnolias with exceptionally dark flowers.One of the most famous dark purple varieties is 'Genie'. Its amazing dark purple flowers resemble tulip flowers, they develop on bare branches at the turn of April and May. The shrubs are small, they are frost resistant, they can withstand temperature drops from -24 to -26 ° C.
Among the novelties from the group of dark-flowered magnolias, it is also worth paying attention to the 'Black Tulip' variety - a stronger growing shrub reaching 3-5 m in height with probably the darkest flowers among magnolias, and 'Oriental Night' - shorter, growing up to 3 m magnolia with almost black flowers in the buds, after developing dark purple
The two-color 'Old Port' variety with white inside and pink-purple outside petals is also interesting.Its beautiful, large and fragrant flowers resemble the flowers of the Soulangeana magnolia.It has a late flowering date. The flowers open at the beginning of May, when other magnolias are already fading and the risk of damage by night frosts is much lower. Shrubs withstand temperature drops to -28 ° C and can be grown all over the country.
A novelty worth special attention is 'Isis', one of the first varieties of Japanese magnolia.It is characterized by a narrow columnar shape, starry white flowers and high frost resistance.In 2014, the advantages of this plant were appreciated and it was awarded a gold medal in the Novelties Plant Competition of the exhibition "Green is Life".
How to grow magnolias
Magnolias prefer fertile, humus soils, sufficiently moist, but well-drained, with a slightly acidic reaction.Plants should be planted in sunny, sheltered, quiet positions, preferably against the southern walls of buildings or hedges.When planting, be careful not to tread the soil around the plants too much so as not to damage their brittle roots.
Since magnolias root shallowly, it is worth mulching the soil around the plants with composted pine bark. The mulch helps to maintain the acidic pH of the substrate, reduces weed infestation, prevents rapid drying and protects the shallow root system against freezing.Magnolias do not tolerate pruning, so this procedure should be performed only when removing dead or damaged shoots.Many new varieties are characterized by good frost resistance, but young bushes should be protected
I dress for the winter.
Varieties of magnolia with flowers in the colors of the sun
Yellow-flowered cultivars, cultivated in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in New York, USA, are slightly more difficult to grow than the previously described varieties due to their lower frost resistance. Most of them come from the Brooklyn magnolia, a hybrid obtained by crossing a tree magnolia with a purple magnolia, which has become the starting species for subsequent cultivars.
One of the most commercially available yellow-flowering varieties is 'Elizabeth' - one of the first and still the most popular varieties with large yellow-cream flowers.It grows strongly, reaching several to several meters in height.The 'Goldstar' variety is also a fast-growing tree with large, beautiful leaves, velvety to the touch, and wide-opening star-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves develop. Magnolia 'Yellow Bird' creates medium-sized, fragrant yellow flowers resembling tulips.
It grows strongly, has a nice columnar habit and a dense crown.It flowers with the development of leaves, blooms long and profusely, repeats flowering in summer.
