Magnolia x proctoriana 'SLAVIN'S SNOWY'

Proctor magnolia is a hybrid of two Japanese magnolia species – m. stellata and m. salicifolia. It is distinguished by early flowering and profusion of star-shaped, white, fragrant flowers, larger than on m. stellata, with less petals but of firmer appearance. Slavin’s Snowy is a selection composed of 6-9, snow-white, 8-9 cm long petals with pale pink stripe outside. They bloom from late March on bare wood. The plant grows fast into a dense, broadly fastigiate shrub or tree. Deciduous leaves are broadly elliptic, medium green.

This variety was named after a horticulturist and botanist Bernard H. Slavin (1876-1960) who worked at Rochester Parks, New York, USA, for 52 years, and was renowned not only for enlarging their plant collections but also selecting suitable, hardy, and most importantly slender trees for city trees. His work is still today used by young landscape architects as a textbook.

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. Proctor magnolia is lime-tolerant and very hardy to abt. -30 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 19-12-2020