Magnolia 'BLUE OPAL'

Are you a magnolia lover who thinks he has seen them all? Well, have another look at this almost blue magnolia. Of course it is slightly exaggerated, there are just blue hues in the bud, yet they are stunning.

Blue Opal magnolia is a selection from magnolia acuminata (so-called cucumber magnolia) which is capable of green and yellow flower colours. Blue Opal has added blue to the family which looks rather impressive though only on the outer petals. Just one note about the images found on google - don't believe the pure blue pictures of this magnolia - there are many individuals who just love working with photoshop and do not honour real colours of nature. This magnolia has bluish-green buds opening into not very large flowers with blue-green outer petals and yellow inner petals when the foliage is out. Leaves are large, obovate, rich green, deciduous. The plant grows upright, not very fast, and quite compact which makes it suitable for small urban spaces.

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. It is fully hardy to abt. -29°(USDA zone 5).

Last update: 15-09-2015; 07-06-2023