Description:

This distinct magnolia features large cup-shaped white flowers, shaded in pink, that open later than the species, making them less susceptible to frost; upright spreading habit becomes more oval with age; an ideal feature in the average home landscape

Ornamental Features

Speciosa Saucer Magnolia is smothered in stunning lightly-scented white cup-shaped flowers with a shell pink flare held atop the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The large pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Speciosa Saucer Magnolia is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. 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.

Speciosa Saucer Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Speciosa Saucer Magnolia will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 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 somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. 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.

Speciosa Saucer Magnolia is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.