Magnolia (syn. 'Sonnenkind') 'GOLDEN GIFT'

Golden Gift is a magnolia crossing between m. acuminata ‘Miss Honeybee’ and (m. acuminata x m. denudate) which makes it obvious that thanks to a lot of genes of cucumber magnolia (m. acuminata) the flowers should be yellow. And they are! They are 6-petalled, mid-sized, tulip-shaped, soft yellow with some green on the outside when they open. They are faintly fragrant and open late in the season – from late April, therefore easily escape last spring frosts. Also important is the blooming season which on established plants stretches for as long as 4 weeks with continuously opening flower buds.

Golden Gift magnolia grows slowly into a well-branched, dense, compact to almost dwarf shrub or small tree of rounded canopy. Young plants are somewhat spreading, becoming denser and more upright later. It was bred by David G. Leach (1913-1998) from Madison in Ohio, USA, a famous rhododendron breeder who in 1980’s wanted to get a hardy, yellow flowering magnolia with late flowers that can escape frosts. He crossbred 9 varieties, and Golden Gift was introduced in 1997. It is often considered his best yellow.

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 you 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 important top roots that absorb maximum moisture and nutrients from the soil. Also avoid planting magnolia too deep. Thus, you could be digging it a grave. Hardy to at least -30 °C (USDA zone 5) and may take a few degrees lower for a short period of time.

Last update 19-12-2020