Where to purchase magnolia trees

On top of their beauty, magnolia trees are highly functional additions to your garden. Fitting well into many ecosystems, magnolias support local wildlife and pollinators with their blooms and berries. Magnolias come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some grow larger than others, and some are ideal for smaller spaces. Take a look at our three tips below for how to buy a Magnolia tree online:. First and foremost, find out what grow zone you live in and which Magnolia trees will grow best there.

The Magnolia Ann is a versatile variety that can grow just about anywhere in the country. For something more synonymous with the south a hardiness zone of , the Teddy Bear Magnolia is a majestic tree that produces a stark contrast of shiny dark green leaves and full white flowers.

If planted too close to a walkway or driveway, the spreading root system can crack or raise the concrete. If you have a smaller yard, rest assured that you can still enjoy the beauty of a Magnolia tree! For smaller varieties, we recommend the Little Gem Magnolia this variety also happens to be relatively cold hardy.

The Little Gem is the smallest subspecies and can grow up to feet tall making it perfect for a smaller property or city garden. Despite its smaller size, it still produces large, crisp white flowers. Luckily, Magnolias are versatile and match well with just about any color or style. Just make sure to choose a tree that has a flower color that complements the rest of the landscape. Another important thing to know is that Magnolia trees are best planted alone and as a focal point rather than a cluster of trees.

This tree does not grow well when planted too close to other specimens, or when there is too much handling on the soil. You run the risk of compacting the roots if so. Magnolias grow best in full sun or partial shade areas, and in well-draining soil that ranges from neutral to slightly acidic. Never dig a hole that will cause the root ball of the tree to sit beneath the soil level in your garden because that can cause root rot.

Well-draining soil can also help to reduce the risk of this happening. The Magnolia tree also creates a shadowed canopy underneath its branches, so grass, nor other groundcovers, will be able to grow underneath it. Consistent and frequent watering is essential during the early stages of planting a Magnolia tree.

The transplantation stage can be stressful on a new plant and they need the extra water to help take to new soil and growing conditions. For the first few weeks following the planting stage, use this simple and trusted watering method:. For every gallon, the container held that the Magnolia tree was delivered in, count to 5. So if it was a one-gallon container, count for 5 seconds as you water the tree.

For a two-gallon container, you would count for 10 seconds; and so on. Once the plant has had a chance to settle and adapt for a few weeks, reduce the watering schedule to a couple of times a week. You may have to increase your frequency depending on how much sunlight your Magnolia receives and how hot or dry your climate is. Organic fertilizers or organic compost are best - simply incorporate the mixture into the soil so the root system can ingest the nutrients it provides.

We highly recommend using Espoma Bio-Tone Plus Starter Plus for plant food, especially during the early stages of planting.

Mulch is another great way to provide added nutrients to your plants. Based on local availability, we recommend layering inches of mulch around your Magnolia tree leaving about an inch of space between the mulch and trunk.

Added benefits of mulch include helping to retain moisture in the soil and keeping weed growth at bay as well. While most people know about the classic Southern Magnolia due to its timeless shape and color, dramatic thick green leaves, and elegant white flowers, there are so many other Magnolia varieties that are unique in their own way.

Learn more about our selection of Magnolia trees for Sale below:. The Magnolia Ann creates a stunning display of saucer-like pink flowers set against a backdrop of glossy, light green leaves. Similar to the Magnolia Ann, the Magnolia Betty produces luscious flowers in a colorful blend of pink and white. This variation of a Magnolia ranks in our top favorites because of its vibrant yellow color.

The Butterfly Magnolia boasts an untraditional color of blossoms that bloom early in the season before any leaves have a chance to sprout. The Little Gem is ideal for smaller spaces or city landscapes. It thrives in zones , can reach heights of feet if left untrimmed, and provides evergreen leaves for year-round color. The Little Gem creates a showy display of luscious white flowers set against a screen of dark green and cinnamon-colored leaves.

It grows as a small to medium-sized shrub no more than 10 feet tall , with white flowers covering the bare branches in very early spring, from an early age. This is one of the hardiest magnolias, growing and flowering well even in zone 4. It grows well in most soils, and even grows in urban conditions, making it one of the easiest magnolias to grow almost anywhere.

This group of 8 different magnolias was developed at the National Arboretum, Washington in the s. It was developed to deal with a specific problem growing deciduous magnolias in colder areas. Although the trees are hardy, and survive cold winters well, once the flower buds begin to develop they are sensitive to even light frost.

Because they develop on the trees so early in the year, late frosts — which occur in many cold parts of the country — can destroy the blooming even before it begins, or when it has barely begun. To overcome this problem, two scientists at the National Arboretum, William F. Kosar and Dr. Francis de Vos, made hybrids from the hardy star magnolia, and one of the parents of the Saucer Magnolia Magnolia liliiflora , which we have already described.

They used several varieties, with different flower colors and forms, of these two species in different crosses, to produce the biggest range of colors and flowers in their seedlings.

They flower one or two weeks later than most other varieties, so they usually miss late frosts, and flower successfully in areas where others will usually be killed. Because of the star magnolia parent, the flowers are more open and spreading, showing off the paler colors within the flower.

All of them form small trees, ideal for smaller gardens, and they will grow well across a wide area from zone 4 to zone 8. They are undoubtedly the top picks for American gardens, top choices among the many different kinds of deciduous magnolias available. Most evergreen magnolias grown in gardens are derived from the Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora. This tree is native to the southeast, from North Carolina down into Florida , and west into Texas and Oklahoma.

Old wild trees can be 90 feet tall, although garden trees are usually much smaller. Magnolia Grandiflora trees grow in areas close to water, but not in it — this tree does not like constant wet soil. The leaves are up to 8 inches long, glossy above and with a brown, felt-like underside. The flowers are up to 12 inches across, and richly perfumed.

They bloom throughout the summer. There are three main reasons why the wild tree , although attractive, is rarely grown in gardens. One is its size. Secondly, trees take many years to begin flowering, and must grow to a large size first. Thirdly, they are not very hardy, so they cannot be grown in many parts of the country. Here are the most important and valuable of them:. The leaves are narrower than in the wild tree, with a very thick, dark-brown felt on the underside.

The flowers are smaller, around 6 inches across, but they are profuse for many months. Blanchard — this variety began at Robbins Nursery in North Carolina, and it is notable for its upright form, with a single central trunk.

The result is that although it will grow tall, it can be planted in a narrower space than other varieties. The flowers are 8 inches across. Edith Bogue — This variety, named after Edith A. Bogue, a gardener in Florida, is perhaps the hardiest variety. It was introduced into New Jersey in the s, and has been widely grown in colder regions ever since. It can withstand temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia only grows to around 35 feet tall, and it forms an elegant pyramidal shape. This variety is a top-choice for colder areas. Kay Parris — This is a smaller variety, growing to around 25 feet tall in time, but staying smaller for many years.

It is completely hardy in zone 6, bringing the Southern Magnolia to many gardeners who thought it was impossible to grow one.

Little Gem — this is perhaps the smallest variety available, and it blooms when just 3 or 4 feet tall. It is ideal for smaller gardens, and also for growing in large pots and tubs. It only grows 12 to 15 feet tall, and 4 feet wide, and the leaves are only 5 inches long.

The flowers are up to 6 inches across. This variety was created by Warren Steed, from seeds he collected in the town of Candor, North Carolina.

It remains an extremely popular variety. Although this species of evergreen magnolia was the first one sent to Europe from America, it is not as widely grown as the southern magnolia. This is a pity, as it is a handsome tree, and is much hardier than its cousin, as it will grow throughout zone 5, and it is found naturally as far north as New Jersey. The flowers of the Sweetbay Magnolia , as it is called, are creamy-white, up to 5 inches across, and they are very strongly perfumed with the smell of vanilla.

A tree will perfume the air hundreds of yards away, making it a great tree to bring beautiful scent to your whole garden. In southern areas it is evergreen, but in colder regions it can lose some or all of its leaves in winter, while the stems and buds remain quite hardy.

This tree is a great choice for more natural landscaping and for planting in woodlands on your property. When planting your Magnolia, remember that it is going to give you much pleasure for many years, so give it some care in return.

Water it well the evening before you are going to plant. Dig a hole twice the width of the container or root-ball, and a little less deep that it. Add plenty of organic material, such as compost, rotted manure, rotted leaves or peat moss and a good handful or two of bone meal to the soil you remove. Take your tree carefully from the container or cut the ropes and unwrap the burlap.

If there is loose soil on the top of the roots, gently scrape it off. If your tree was in a container, after removing it take a sharp knife and cut one inch deep from top to bottom at four places around the roots. This is to stop roots growing around the trunk and eventually strangling the tree. Place your tree in the hole, replace most of the soil and firm it down well. Add plenty of water and once it has drained away, add the rest of the soil but keep the top of the roots a couple of inches above the level of the surrounding soil.

Apply a few inches of organic mulch — like the rest of the material you mixed into the soil — over the roots. Do not use bark chips, pebbles or plastic. Once established, Magnolias need very little care. They normally should not be pruned, but left to develop naturally. During the first year or two make sure they are kept well-watered, and after that do not let them get completely dry. There are very few if any pests or diseases to worry about.

If planted in a lawn do not let the grass grow up to the trunk until the tree is quite old as the grass will steal nutrients from your Magnolia. Magnolias need no pruning , in fact they develop best if left to grow naturally. It is a great idea — and saves a lot of work — to let this happen naturally to your trees as they grow and mature.

Magnolia trees come naturally from areas where other trees grow. In nature, each year leaves fall from these trees, rotting into the ground. As a result, they like soil with plenty of rich organic material in it. This will have been added when you planted your trees, but it needs regular replacement to keep the levels high.

You should spread rich organic mulch over the whole root area every spring, or at least every second spring. This is especially useful for the deciduous kinds of magnolias, but the evergreen ones too will benefit, especially when they are younger. Suitable materials include garden compost, rotted leaves, well-rotted animal manures, composted bark, or peat-moss. Newly-planted trees should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the weather.

After the first season this can be reduced to when the soil has begun to dry a little, but young trees should not be allowed to become completely dry. A regular supply of water will give you the maximum growth-rate from your tree.

During the early years, using a fertilizer regularly will produce the fastest-growth and the healthiest trees. Young trees can be fed with a liquid fertilizer suitable for flowering trees, and older trees can be fed with solid or granular fertilizers, as a larger tree will quickly use up all the nutrients in liquid forms.

Make your cuts at a degree angle and use clean, sterilized pruning shears. You may also remove dead, damaged or diseased areas throughout the year. Plant Care Resource Center. We've determined you're in Growing Zone Planting Elsewhere? Call us at Magnolia Trees. Showing 1 - 7 of 7 items.

A true Southern gem. When Do Magnolia Trees Bloom? Sun Requirements Full Sun: 6 hours Characteristics Large, cream to white flowers and amazing fragrance. Sun Requirements Full Sun: 6 hours Characteristics Sweet, lemony scent with leaves and twigs with a spicy fragrance.