Magnolia 'SHIRAZZ'

Shiraz (one zed) is a Persian town (today's Iran) renowned for the finest white wine in the Middle East over a long period from the 9th till the 19th century. No grape wine is grown nor drinking wine is produced in Iran now, so it happened that when a new and very good red grape wine called Syrah appeared in France, someone in Australia decided to dust off the ancient glory of Persian wine and began using the name Shiraz as opposed to Syrah. It was quickly adopted and this new red wine is also elsewhere around the world called Shiraz. Hence in modern language Shiraz, similarly to Burgundy or Claret, holds for a synonym of anything of dark red colour. Just like in case of this magnolia, only one letter was added.

Shirazz (two zeds) is a lush magnolia variety from New Zealand. It is a cross between magnolia denudata and magnolia Vulcan. The result is a profusion of vibrant claret red flowers with paler interior. They are fragrant and come out along strictly upright branches like closed tulips, opening wide a week or more later into a beautiful shape. They are numerous and make more than one flush of flowers usually from mid April, successfully escaping late spring frosts.

Leaves are deciduous, rather large, widely obovate, mid green, with no significant autumn colour. The habit is very upright, compact, and rather columnar. Adult trees are expected to reach up to 5m tall in 15-20 years in Central European climate.

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. 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. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 03-02-2016