MAGNOLIA STELLATA, STAR MAGNOLIA: A Quick Look
Originating from Japan, Magnolia stellata is one of the more compact types of magnolia, making it suitable for small gardens or courtyards and balconies.
They are also suitable for growing in containers. M. stellata is slow growing, only reaching about 2m after about ten years and about 3m wide. It produces scented, white, star-shaped flowers (hence the name stellata) in mid-spring, although this species can be prone to form a pinkish variation of the pure white.
It has quite a twiggy habit, which results in masses of flowers on its bare stems. It can also produce a reddish fruit (inedible) in autumn. Like most magnolias, they prefer slightly acidic soil conditions although stellata are more tolerant of alkaline soil than most.
It should be planted in full sun or partial shade, but it does require a sheltered site to ensure its early display of flowers is not destroyed or damaged by strong winds and driving rain. M. stellata will also tolerate damp soil, as its original habitat is along the steamy sides and boggy ground of Japan’s largest island, Honshu.
Magnolias require very little maintenance. Keep the shrub weed free around its base. Avoid pruning where possible and only do so if it is necessary to tidy up a straggly looking plant, or to remove dead branches. The best time to prune is midsummer when the plant is in full leaf.
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