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Trees

Magnolia salicifolia

willow-leaved magnolia

Broadly conical, deciduous tree to 10m in height, with narrow, willow-like, pale green leaves 10cm long, whitish beneath, and lemon-scented when bruised. Fragrant star-shaped, white flowers to 10cm across, with 6 narrow spreading tepals, opening before the leaves in mid-spring

Other common names

anise magnolia
willow-leaf magnolia

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Magnoliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with large, showy, often fragrant flowers, often opening before the leaves, and sometimes followed by colourful cone-like fruit
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich, well-drained neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds. Late frosts may damage flower buds. See further magnolia cultivation advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn and spring, by softwood or greenwood cuttings from late spring to early summer or by semi-hardwood cuttings from late summer to autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Architectural
City and courtyard gardens

Pruning

Minimal pruning required, see magnolia pruning. Deciduous magnolias should only be pruned between midsummer and early autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, horse chestnut scale and capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, phytophthora, grey moulds, honey fungus, a virus or fungal leaf spot

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