Magnolia x loebneri 'MAG'S PIROUETTE'

If you like strong and sweet perfume of magnolia flowers do not miss out on Mag’s Pirouette. It is a seedling of Ballerina variety and was found by Tetsuo Magaki in Japan. It is as slender and beautiful as a ballet dancer and produces snow white, semi-double to double flowers. Their petals are typical of those found in loebneri group – shortly lance-shaped with rounded tips. Flowers are not large but their fantastic fragrance can be compared to swamp magnolia (m.virginiana).

Blooming begins early, along or just a little later than soulangeana hybrids or stellatas. Naturally it forms an upright, broadly columnar shrub about 3-4m tall and half as wide. Deciduous leaves are fresh green and emerge with red hues.

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. 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. Hardy to about -30°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 09-06-2020