Magnolia 'MGSTA2009' STARBURST

Discovering magnolia STARBURST was a thrill. Not only has it gorgeous flowers, but it also has something very practical for small gardens – narrower, almost fastigiate habit. Its fragrant flowers are 15-20 cm across, purple red on the outside and much paler inside with pink stars airbrushed onto the background. A few days after flowering, they are as firm as lotus flowers, and then the outward petals turn downwards like, for example, Daybreak variety. They begin to bloom at the beginning of the second phase of magnolia flowering – usually from late April to early May which helps them escape late frosts. Deciduous leaves are ovate to obovate, medium green and flushed purple as they emerge. It grows moderately into a strictly upright habit with short lateral branches, about 4 meters tall and only about half as wide. STARBURST magnolia was bred by Vance Hooper from New Zealand as a cross between m. cylindrica and Genie and introduced in 2006.

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. Hardy to min. -25 °C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 11-04-2024