March Tree of the Month-Star magnolia
Magnolia season is the start of the ‘big show’ in St. Louis regarding spring blooming trees. The first magnolia that takes the spotlight is the star magnolia, Magnolia stellata. Like their other deciduous cousins, the saucer magnolia, M. x soulangiana March Tree of the Month-Saucer Magnolia (garden-lou.com), or the Merrill magnolia-March Tree of the Month-Merrill Magnolia (garden-lou.com), star magnolias bloom before the leaves emerge in shades of pink or white, depending on the cultivar. The fragrant flowers differ from saucer magnolias with droopy petals instead of upright saucer-shaped flowers.
Cultivated in Japan for centuries where it’s called “Shidekobushi,” meaning “Four fisted hands,” The English common name originated from the flower petal arrangement resembling a star.
After flowering, cone-like fruits appear, containing bright orange seeds. The fall color is a pale yellow.
The big appeal of the star magnolia is its size. Whereas saucer magnolias can reach 30’ or more feet high and wide, the star magnolias rarely get over 20’ in either direction. Many cultivars like ‘Waterlily’ have a rounded, multi-stem habit that blurs the line between “shrub” and “tree.
Star mags prefer rich, organic soil and do not like extended periods of drought. Full sun is best for better blooms, but it will tolerate part shade.
Also, like saucer magnolias, star mags have that beautifully smooth silvery-gray bark, tolerate a variety of soils, have few pests or diseases, and can charm even the most unlikely non-plant geek.
What I love about this plant;
-One of the first flowering trees to bloom in spring.
-Beautiful fragrant blooms.
-Compact size.
-No significant pests or diseases.
-Great specimen tree in the landscape.
-Flowers when only 2-3 years old.
What’s not so great;
-Being the first to bloom in St. Louis means a VERY high chance of losing those blooms to a late snow or freeze. Placement with some winter protection from winds and away from southern exposures that accelerate the blooming process can help slow things down. If a freeze is predicted, you can always trim off some smaller branches and enjoy the blooms indoors.
-Suckers sometimes form at the base of the trunk-turn them off at the base but do not treat them with herbicides.
Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2024, All rights reserved.
