Magnolia x loebneri
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-lee-ah LEB-ner-ee
- Description
-
This deciduous magnolia tree is a hybrid from a cross between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata. It is a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). The Loebner magnolia is vigorous and flowers at an early age. It is a smaller magnolia at 20 to 30 feet, about as wide, and has a round shape. White blooms appear in February to March. This tree is sometimes grown in a multi-trunked shrub form.
A number of hybrid cultivars, or varieties, are now available commercially, featuring flowers that have white or varying shades of pink, including pink-lilac.
An interesting feature is that a bruised stem emits a sweet fragrance. As with other magnolias, wildlife may use it as cover both within the dense branches and underneath on the ground. It can be grown in full sun or at the edge of a woodland area with partial shade.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale are occasional pests. Late frosts in the spring can damage flower buds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Leonard Messel'
- Merrill
White flowers with a pink tinge. Fragrant. Showy.
'Spring Snow'
- Merrill
- 'Leonard Messel', Merrill, 'Spring Snow'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Leonard Messel'
- Merrill
White flowers with a pink tinge. Fragrant. Showy.
'Spring Snow'
- Merrill
- 'Leonard Messel', Merrill, 'Spring Snow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia, Eastern U.S.
- Wildlife Value:
- Used as cover by wildlife.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are a cone-like aggregate of follicles.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are single and white 3" long and 1" wide appearing in the winter and early spring. Cultivars may have white blooms tinged with shades of pink or lilac-pink. They are fragrant, 5" in diameter, and have 9-15 spatulate tepals (outer part of flower).
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, narrow obovate, acute, rounded, dark green, and grow up to 6" long. They can turn a yellow-brown color in the fall before dropping.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stems are slender, brown to purple to green, are dotted with elliptical-oval, and they have gray vertical lenticels. Sweet fragrance comes from bruised stems.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
