March Tree of the Month-Merrill Magnolia

You don’t have to be a Plant-geek or a Tree-geek to appreciate a Merrill magnolia in full bloom. They are stunning, no doubt, but the timing is one thing that makes them so magical. March in St. Louis can be dark, rainy, snowy, windy, sunny, hot, you name it we get all the weather ‘feels’ in one month most years.

Merrill magnolias, Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill,’ are one of the first trees to flower in our area, a prologue of what’s to follow. They stand out against the drab mulch and bare branches more than later flowering trees, so we love them maybe a bit more…however, with Mother Nature, there is always a price. Far too often, right at peak flowering, we get hit with a snowstorm or freezing temps that turn those gorgeous blooms to mush.

Totally worth it.

The Merrill magnolia-developed at Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, is a hybrid between M. kobus and M. stellata, two other early-flowering magnolia species. A mature Merrill can reach up to 60’ given time. They are slow to mature, so be patient if you’re expecting a show like the Mother Merrill at MBG.

Full sun produces the best flowering and shape, but they will tolerate part shade. Rich organic soils are key along with not letting them dry out too much or keeping them wet too long.

What I love about this plant-

-One of the first harbingers of spring.

-Stems can be forced to bloom early indoors.

-Great traffic-stopping specimen tree.

-A MBG Plant of Merit

What’s not so great-

-Early blooms can be nipped by freezing temps or snow. Placement with some protection can help.

-Be patient; Merrills are slow to mature and flower. As mentioned above-totally worth it.

Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2023, All rights reserved.