Magnolia x soulangeana 'ALBA SUPERBA'

If you are a magnolia lover who still has some space in the garden which is a rare combination, have a look at this immense beauty in white named Alba Superba. It is a reliable and hardy variety of saucer magnolia. If the weather is nice, from mid April (in zone 6) begins to open its profusion of medium large, cup shaped, very fragrant, white flowers with a little bit of pale purple-pink flame at the bottom of the calyxes. Being quite early to flower it is recommended to avoid the warmest and protected sites. Quite the contrary: let it feel the chilly spring breeze owing to which it will not open its flowers precociously. Deciduous leaves are rather obovate with a notable tip, medium sized, mid to dark green. It grows slowly to moderately into an upright shrub which spreads with age but remains taller than wide unlike the pink species.

Magnolias are not supposed to be pruned. You can prune old shrubs if ill, or trim them to shape or to reduce size, or make an elementary cut to young plants of unsightly or unhealthy appearance. Do this as soon as possible after flowering to secure setting of flower buds for the following year. Be aware that each magnolia can respond differently to pruning.

Deciduous magnolias are quite easy plants. All they need is light, well-drained, acidic soil with equal moisture throughout the year. Once established they can do with occasional drought but will not look as nice as the ones with regular watering. Just pay attention to how to plant your magnolia. First, find it a spot where it will live forever and ever. It does not like transplanting. And as it makes shallow roots reaching well over its spread stay away from disturbing the roots by digging or messing about around it. Just cover the soil with bark mulch and do not plant anything else near it after say the second year after planting onwards. You could damage the very important top roots that absorb maximum moisture and nutrients from the soil. Also avoid planting magnolia too deep. Thus you could be digging its grave. Keep it mulched at all times in order to retain constant moisture. It is fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 24-02-2014