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Common Name: magnolia
Type: Tree
Family: Magnoliaceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 15 to 20 feet
Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Tolerates: Air Pollution
Uses: Hedge, Flowering Tree
Culture
Best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Best sited in areas protected from high wind. Somewhat tolerant of urban conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
‘Butterflies’ is a deciduous hybrid magnolia resulting from a cross between M. acuminata (seed parent) and M. denudata (pollen parent). It is noted for its non-fading yellow flowers, late vegetative growth, compact pyramidal form and hardiness to both heat and cold. It typically grows as an upright, pyramidal tree to 18-20’ tall with a single trunk. It also grows as a multi-stemmed shrub. Upright, tulip-like, yellow flowers (to 4-5” across) bloom in late winter to early spring (late March in St. Louis). Each flower has 10-16 tepals. Flowers have a light lemon oil aroma. Flowers typically cover the tree with a profuse bloom for about 7-9 days. Foliage does not begin to emerge until the tepals have fallen. Dark green leaves (to 8” long) are oblong-elliptic with cuspidate tips. Foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season, but produces little fall color (gray-brown). Plant flowers are rarely pollinated by insects, and accordingly fruit is rarely produced. When it does appear, fruits are reddish-green at maturity. U. S. Plant Patent PP7,456 issued February 26, 1991. Genus name honors Pierre Magnol, French botanist (1638-1715).
Plant of Merit
Upright, lemon-scented, tulip-like yellow flowers 4 to 5 inches across cover this compact, pyramidal, deciduous tree or large shrub with bloom in late March or early April before the foliage emerges. Oblong-elliptic dark green leaves with cuspidate tips remain attractive throughout the growing season. This early spring bloomer has good tolerance for winter cold, summer heat and urban growing conditions.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Garden Uses
Ornamental magnolia for lawns, foundations or woodland margins.