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by Trevor Cole
photos by Tracy Cox |
Magical
Magnolias (part
2) |
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| MELLOW
YELLOWS |
Magnolias
with ivory or yellow flowers are growing in popularity
and becoming more widely available in Canadian garden
centres. These yellow magnolias are likely the result
of crossing the native cucumber tree—which
has small, insignificant, yellow flowers—with
either the Yulan or the saucer magnolia. Hardiness
depends on their parentage, but they’re worth
trying if you’re looking for something different.
One superior variety
is ‘Elizabeth’, introduced by Brooklyn
Botanic Garden. A small, conical tree that grows
to six metres tall, it has deliciously fragrant,
pale yellow flowers. Although generally listed in
catalogues as hardy to Zone 6b, these plants flourish
in gardens in Ottawa’s Zone 5 climate and
flowered well in the spring of 2003, after a winter
that was hard on many magnolia buds.
Other notable ivory
and yellow magnolias include ‘Gold Star’,
‘Butterflies’, ‘Golden Endeavor’
and ‘Yellow Bird’, which have all survived
and bloomed in Ottawa gardens. And, if you feel
like experimenting, ‘Sundance’, ‘Yellow
Fever’ and ‘Yellow Lantern’ are
worth looking for as well. |
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| 'Betty' |
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Large magnolias, such as the kobus variety (M. kobus, Zone 5),
make good specimen or accent plants grown in a lawn, but they’re
equally effective at the back of a border, especially when backed
by an evergreen hedge that shows off their flowers to perfection.
Smaller varieties, such as the star magnolias (M. stellata cvs.),
can be integrated in a mixed or shrub border. They work well
with summer-flowering shrubs, including beautybush (Kolkwitzia
amabilis) and various spireas, and offer a pleasing contrast
in texture and form to imposing perennials such as ornamental
grasses.
Plant magnolias in full sun or
dappled shade in rich, slightly acidic, moisture-retentive loam.
Like most plants, they’ll tolerate less-than-ideal conditions
if they’re sated otherwise; many magnolias grow successfully
in alkaline soil with a pH of 7.5 at the Dominion Arboretum
in Ottawa (Zone 5), most likely because of its deep and moisture-retentive
soil. The magnolias wouldn’t thrive as well if planted
in a shallow, alkaline soil that rapidly dries out. However,
select the site with care, as established magnolias do not transplant
easily.
All have shallow root systems,
so the surrounding soil shouldn’t be cultivated too much;
underplant with perennials or groundcovers rather than annuals.
Magnolias should be bought as balled-and-burlapped or container-grown
plants: they have a fleshy root system that breaks easily if
you try to plant them bare-root and, unless they’re in
active growth, the damaged roots will rot rather than heal.
It’s also preferable to buy small plants since they suffer
less root damage.
In most of Canada, spring planting
is best, although fall is feasible in regions that have milder
winters, such as coastal British Columbia or southern Ontario.
Prepare a hole at least twice the size of the root ball so roots
can stretch out; site the plant no deeper than it was in its
original container. Refill the hole with the original soil,
water well and apply a five-centimetre layer of mulch to help
retain moisture. Be prepared to water during any prolonged periods
of drought during the first year. This is critical to a magnolia’s
survival (water if leaves feel limp to the touch).
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| PART
1 | PART 2 | PART
3 | PART 4 |
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