Culture
Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Generally intolerant of soil extremes (dry or wet). Intolerant of most urban pollutants. May take 3-4 years before first blooms appear. Best sited in a protected location, because early spring frosts can damage flowers.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Magnolia × loebneri, commonly called Loebner magnolia, is a deciduous hybrid magnolia (M. kobus × M. stellata). It is a small tree typically growing to 20-30’ tall with a rounded crown. It is more often grown in a multi-trunked form that as a single trunk tree. Fragrant star-like white flowers (4-6” wide) with 10-15 petals appear in early spring before the foliage (March – April in St. Louis). Flowers give way to cone-like fruits that ripen to red in late summer, releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity. Fruits are sometimes absent on this hybrid. Obovate, medium green leaves (to 5” long). A number of hybrid cultivars are now available in commerce featuring flowers that are white, blush-pink, lilac pink or pink.
Genus name honors Pierre Magnol, French botanist (1638-1715).
Specific epithet honors Max Loebner, a German horticulturist, who made the first cross of this hybrid in the early 1900s.
'Powder Puff' is a compact cultivar growing up to 20 feet noted for its exceptional petals. Very attractive pure white blooms with many tepals give it a powder puff appearance. 'Powder Puff' was selected by August Kehr, Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1987 and registered in 1990.
Problems
Late spring frost may damage early blooms.
Uses
Excellent specimen tree for the lawn or shrub border. Also effective on the periphery of a woodland area.