Below is a list of magnolia species and cultivars which currently (2016) [1] hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Magnolias are shrubs or trees which put on a showy display of tulip-like flowers, often scented, in early to late spring. Many are slow-growing and may take several years to start flowering. They are suitable for cultivation in parks or gardens in temperate regions. [2] M. stellata is suitable for smaller gardens. All are deciduous except for M. grandiflora, which is evergreen. The AGM citation includes a hardiness rating: [3] all of the plants listed here are rated H6 (hardy down to -20 °C to -15 °C) or H5 (hardy down to -15 °C to -10 °C). This is indicated in the column marked H. Nevertheless, magnolias prefer a sheltered spot, and flower buds may be damaged by late frosts. The maximum size (height and spread) is shown in metres.
Name | AGM | H | Colour | Scent | Max size h×w | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M. 'Athene' [4] | 2012 | H5 | white/pink | yes | 8 × 8 | |
M. 'Caerhays Belle' [5] | 2012 | H5 | pink | no | 12+ × 8+ | ![]() |
M. 'Caerhays Surprise' [6] | 2012 | H5 | pink | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. campbellii 'Darjeeling' | 2012 | H4 | deep pink/wine | no | 10 × 4 | ![]() |
M. 'Daphne' [7] | 2012 | H6 | pale yellow | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. David Clulow' [8] | 2012 | H5 | white/pale pink | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. 'Daybreak' | 2012 | H6 | pink/red | yes | 10 × 3 | ![]() |
M. denudata [9] (yulan) | 1993 | H6 | white | yes | 12 × 12 | ![]() |
M. 'Elizabeth' [10] | 1993 | H6 | pale yellow | yes | 12 × 8 | ![]() |
M. 'Galaxy' [11] | 1993 | H6 | rose-pink | no | 12 × 8 | ![]() |
M. 'George Henry Kern' [12] | 2012 | H6 | pale pink/purple | no | 4 × 2.5 | |
M. 'Gold Star' [13] | 2012 | H6 | creamy yellow | no | 8 × 4 | |
M. grandiflora 'Kay Parris' [14] | 2012 | H5 | creamy white | yes | 8 × 4 | |
M. grandiflora 'Victoria' | 2002 | H5 | white | yes | 10 × 8 | |
M. 'Heaven Scent' [15] | 1993 | H6 | rose pink | yes | 12 × 12 | |
M. liliiflora 'Nigra' [16] | 1993 | H6 | red/purple | no | 4 × 2.5 | ![]() |
M. × loebneri 'Donna' [17] | 2012 | H6 | white | yes | 8 × 8 | |
M. × loebneri 'Leonard Messel' [18] | 1993 | H6 | lilac/pale pink | yes | 8 × 8 | ![]() |
M. × loebneri 'Mag's Pirouette' | 2012 | H6 | white | yes | 4 × 3 | |
M. × loebneri 'Merrill' [19] | 1993 | H6 | white | no | 8 × 8 | ![]() |
M. × loebneri 'Wildcat' | 2012 | H6 | white | no | 4 × 3 | |
M. 'Lois' [20] | 2012 | H6 | primrose yellow | yes | 12 × 8 | |
M. 'Milky Way' [21] | 2002 | H5 | white/pale pink | no | 8 × 4 | |
M. 'Pegasus' | 2012 | H6 | white/purple | no | 6 × 6 | |
M. salicifolia 'Wada's Memory' [22] | 1993 | H6 | white | yes | 12 × 8 | ![]() |
M. 'Sayonara' [23] | 1993 | H5 | white/purple | no | 8 × 4 | |
M. sieboldii 'Colossus' [24] | 2012 | H6 | white/red | yes | 8 × 8+ | ![]() |
M. × soulangeana 'Brozzonii' [25] | 1993 | H5 | white/purple | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. × soulangeana 'Pickard's Schmetterling' | 2012 | H5 | white/purple | no | 8+ × 8 | |
M. 'Spectrum' [26] | 2012 | H6 | pale pink/purple | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. sprengeri var. diva 'Burncoose' [27] | 2012 | H6 | purple/white | no | 12 × 8 | |
M. sprengeri var. diva 'Copeland Court' [28] | 2012 | H6 | bright pink | no | 8 × 8 | |
M. sprengeri var. diva 'Eric Savill' [29] | 2012 | H6 | bright pink/pale pink | no | 12 × 8 | |
M. 'Star Wars' [30] | 2002 | H5 | rose pink, double | yes | 8 × 4 | ![]() |
M. stellata 'Centennial' [31] | 2012 | H6 | white/pink | yes | 2.5 × 4 | |
M. stellata 'Jane Platt' [32] | 2012 | H6 | pale pink | yes | 2.5 × 4 | |
M. stellata 'Royal Star' [33] | 2012 | H6 | white | yes | 4 × 4 | ![]() |
M. 'Susan' [34] | 1993 | H6 | purple/pink | yes | 4 × 4 | ![]() |
M. 'Sweetheart' | 2012 | H5 | pink | yes | 6 × 4 | |
M. wilsonii [35] | 1993 | H6 | white/crimson | yes | 8 × 8 | ![]() |
M. 'Yellow Lantern' [36] | 2012 | H6 | pale yellow | no | 5 × 5 |
Name | Type | Flower colour | Dimensions h × w |
---|---|---|---|
M. grandiflora 'Exmouth' [37] | tree f | double white | 8–12 m (26–39 ft) × 8–12 m (26–39 ft) |
'Lennei' [38] | shrub f | purple/white | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) × 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft) |
M. obovata [39] | tree | cream | 12–15 m (39–49 ft) × 8–12 m (26–39 ft) |
'Rustica Rubra' [40] | shrub f | rose-pink | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) × 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
M. salicifolia [41] | tree | white, fragrant | 8–12 m (26–39 ft) × 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
M. stellata [42] | shrub | white | 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft) × 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft) |
M. stellata 'Water Lily' [43] | shrub | white | 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft) × 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft) |
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.
Erica arborea, the tree heath or tree heather, is a species of flowering plant (angiosperms) in the heather family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. It is also cultivated as an ornamental.
Deutzia is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to eastern and central Asia, and Central America and also Europe. By far the highest species diversity is in China, where 50 species occur.
Magnolia stellata, sometimes called the star magnolia, is a slow-growing shrub or small tree native to Japan. It bears large, showy white or pink flowers in early spring, before its leaves open. This species is closely related to the Kobushi magnolia, and is treated by many botanists as a variety or even a cultivar of that. However, Magnolia stellata was accepted as a distinct species in the 1998 monograph by Hunt.
Agave americana, common names century plant, maguey, or American aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Mexico and the United States in Texas. It is cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant, and has been naturalized in many regions, including parts of the West Indies, South America, Mediterranean Basin, Africa, Canary Islands, India, China, Thailand, and Australia.
Juniperus chinensis, the Chinese juniper is a species of plant in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to China, Myanmar, Japan, Korea and the Russian Far East. Growing 1–20 m (3.3–65.6 ft) tall, it is a very variable coniferous evergreen tree or shrub.
Clivia miniata, the Natal lily or bush lily or kaffir lily, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clivia of the family Amaryllidaceae, native to woodland habitats in South Africa as well as in Eswatini. Given suitable conditions it grows into large clumps and is surprisingly water wise. It is also reportedly naturalized in Mexico. It is a popular plant for shady areas and is commonly seen growing in older established suburbs in most Australian states. It is also popular in New Zealand, Japan, China and the US, particularly California.
Pyrus salicifolia is a species of pear, native to the Middle East. It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, almost always as a pendulous cultivar, and is called by various common names, including willow-leaved pear, weeping pear, and similar. The tree is deciduous and of comparatively small stature, rarely reaching 10–12 meters in height. The crown is rounded. It has pendulous, silvery foliage, superficially similar to a weeping willow. The flowers are large and pure white highlighted with black-tipped stamens although the buds are tipped with red. The small green fruits are inedible, being hard and astringent.
Juniperus squamata, the flaky juniper or Himalayan juniper, is a species of coniferous shrub in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to the Himalayas and China
Geranium sanguineum, common names bloody crane's-bill or bloody geranium, is a species of hardy flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the cranesbill family Geraniaceae. It is also the county flower of Northumberland.
Magnolia sprengeri, or Sprenger's magnolia, is a species of Magnolia native to China, occurring in Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, and Sichuan in forests or thickets at 1300–2400 m altitude. Named for Carl Ludwig Sprenger, a botanist of note.
Miscanthus sinensis, the eulalia or Chinese silver grass, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to eastern Asia throughout most of China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
Escallonia is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Escalloniaceae. They are native to North and South America.
Hesperantha coccinea, the river lily, or crimson flag lily, is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae, native to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe.
Yucca gloriosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the southeastern United States. Growing to 2.5 m (8 ft), it is an evergreen shrub. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its architectural qualities, and has reportedly become established in warmer climates in the wild in various parts of the world.
Symphyotrichum ericoides, known as white heath aster, frost aster, or heath aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to much of central and eastern North America. It has been introduced to parts of Europe and western Asia.
Cyclamen cilicium is a species of flowering perennial plant in the family Primulaceae. It is native to coniferous woodland at 700–2,000 m (2,300–6,600 ft) elevation in the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey.
Acer palmatum, commonly known as Japanese maple, palmate maple, or smooth Japanese maple (Japanese: irohamomiji, イロハモミジ, or momiji,, is a species of woody plant native to Japan, Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their large variety of attractive forms, leaf shapes, and spectacular colors.
Heliopsis helianthoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common names rough oxeye, smooth oxeye and false sunflower. It is native to eastern and central North America from Saskatchewan east to Newfoundland and south as far as Texas, New Mexico, and Georgia.