What is a Saucer Magnolia?

The saucer magnolia is a small tree that features low branches and a tendency to bloom in the late winter or early spring, when most other trees still have bare branches. It is also referred to as Magnolia x soulangeana, or a tulip tree, and its origin is Asia. It does best in either full sun or partial shade and moist, deep soil, and is known for its large flowers. The blooms are fragrant, and range in color from white to pink or purple.

This tree's foliage is deciduous, with leaves that are large and dark green. One unique trait is that the flowers on the saucer magnolia usually arrive before the leaves do after winter, since the tree tends to bloom just before spring shows up. For areas that are prone to frost, it is best to plant the saucer magnolia with northern exposure so that the blooms do not show up too early and die right away due to frost. The flowers tend to attract bees, butterflies, and birds, likely because the blooms are large, colorful, and fragrant. In fact, the saucer magnolia gets its name from the flowers, as they tend to open quite large to show off long petals that are pink, white, or light purple.

One can expect the saucer magnolia to grow to a height of about 25 feet (7.62 m), with a width of about the same size. The flowers are usually about ten inches (25.4 cm) in diameter, and are said to be in the shape of goblets. The bark of this tree stands out, as well, as it is a shade of silver during the winter. Animals and insects are not the only ones to appreciate the appearance of this tree, as many average homeowners and gardeners alike enjoy the rare beauty of a tree that blooms during winter.

An ideal spot for this type of tree is in full or partial sunlight, with a regular amount of watering. The best kind of soil for it is moist, well-drained, deep, and somewhat acidic. Since this tree is rather small, it may look like a large shrub at times, especially since it tends to develop many stems. This habit can be prevented by pruning the tree when it is still small, so that it keeps all the growth on a single trunk. After that point, the tree only needs to be pruned to keep its shape after the flowers bloom.