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Magnolia doltsopa

temple magnolia

Small, evergreen tree or large shrub with a bushy habit and long, oval leaves, shiny, dark green above and with silky, grey hairs on the underside. Bowl-shaped, multi-petalled, creamy-white flowers, formed in the autumn, are very fragrant and appear in late spring

Other common names

sweet michelia

Synonyms

Michelia manipurensis
Michelia doltsopa

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Plant nurseries
5 suppliers

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

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–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: Semi evergreen or 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: Asia

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. Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK except in severe winters and a risk from sudden (early) frosts. See magnolia cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or 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
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Minimal pruning required, see magnolia pruning

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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