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Magnolia figo

port wine magnolia

Rounded, bushy evergreen shrub 3-4m tall, with downy, yellowish-brown stems and shiny, oval dark green leaves. The cup-shaped, banana-scented flowers are greenish-yellow to ivory white, with a fine dark red margin to the petals, and appear in late spring and early summer

Other common names

banana shrub
brown-stalked magnolia
see moreChinese tulip tree

Synonyms

Michelia figo 'Port Wine'
Magnolia figo 'Port Wine'
see moreMichelia figo var. figo
Michelia figo

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–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: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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: E China

How to grow

Cultivation

Not frost hardy, so will need to be grown under glass in almost all parts of the country. Use a peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added bark, grow in full light with shade from hot sun and moderate to low humidity. See further magnolia cultivation advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in autumn, softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in mid-or late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning Group 1

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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