Magnolia 'LIVINGSTONE'

Livingstone is another New Zealand magnolia hybrid. It was bred by Ian Thomas Baldick from Runciman in South Auckland and introduced in 2013. In the same year he was awarded the Plant Raisers’ Medal by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture for raising meritorious plant cultivars which not only beautified the island but also helped New Zealand become a respected country in the field of breeding plants of worldwide fame. Baldick has bred at least 30 magnolia cultivars to date, including very successful Purple Sensation, Red As or Ian’s Red.

Livingstone magnolia is a cross between m. sprengeri ‘Diva’ and m. ‘Vulcan’. Sprenger’s magnolia is often used in hybridization for flower size and fragrance, and Vulcan was surely chosen for the colour. The result is splendid. A large flower of a vibrant purple red colour and pleasant scent. Blooming begins in mid April in C.E. climate while the plant is still bare and continues for 2-3 weeks. Leaves are deciduous, large, about 12 x 6 cm, medium green. It grows moderately into a rather symmetrical, narrowly columnar habit, forming slender, upright shrubs or small trees with narrow canopy about 4-5m tall.

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. Expected hardiness is abt. -25 °C (USDA zone 5b-6).

Last update 09-12-2020