Magnolia 'Milky Way'
magnolia 'Milky Way'
Vigorous, open-branched deciduous tree about 10m tall, with mid-green leaves to 20cm long, and in mid-spring creamy-white to white flowers, 25cm across with broad tepals, all tinged pale pink towards the base; flowers freely from a young age
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Cream White Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds. Flowers may be damaged by late frosts. See magnolia cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings from late spring to early summer or semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
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
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.