Description:

A hybrid magnolia selected for its large, creamy-white cup-shaped blooms in spring and early summer; neat habit of growth; semi-evergreen, will shed leaves after cold winters or after transplanting; an excellent specimen tree for average sized yards

Ornamental Features

Libby Magnolia is covered in stunning fragrant creamy white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has dark green foliage with coppery-bronze undersides. The large glossy pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. The fruits are showy pink pods displayed in early fall.

Landscape Attributes

Libby Magnolia is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Libby Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Libby Magnolia will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.