Elizabeth Magnolia

Elizabeth Magnolia (Magnolia 'Elizabeth') is the deciduous magnolia for gardeners who want yellow instead of the usual pink. It builds to about 6m tall and 4m wide, and in early spring it carries fragrant primrose yellow goblets along bare branches before a single leaf opens. The roots are fleshy and non-invasive, so it can sit near a driveway without lifting the surface.

Why you'll love it

• Yellow flowers, which is genuinely rare. A cross of Magnolia acuminata and M. denudata, it flowers primrose yellow where other deciduous magnolias give pink or white.
• Fragrance that carries. The blooms are scented, and because they open on bare wood nothing stands between you and the display.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Fleshy and non-invasive, so it is one of the safer flowering trees near paving and drives.
• Built for cold gardens. Frost hardy, and at home in cool temperate and warm temperate districts where winter chill sets up the spring show.
• A shade tree that fits a backyard. At 6m by 4m it throws usable summer shade, then drops its leaves so winter sun reaches the house.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it an open position where the bare branch flowering shows against sky or a dark hedge, and where the scent reaches a path.

Shade for smaller gardens. Four metres of canopy covers an outdoor setting without swallowing the yard, and the winter bareness is a bonus on a southern block.

Driveways and avenues. Allow the full 4m spread per tree, so roughly 5m between trunks if each canopy is to hold its shape.

Growing Elizabeth Magnolia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It belongs in cool temperate and warm temperate gardens and is frost hardy once established. Subtropical and tropical districts lack the winter chill for reliable flowering, so northern gardeners want an evergreen magnolia instead. Shelter it from strong wind, because the large flowers bruise.

Soil. It handles poorer ground than most flowering trees, but drainage is not negotiable. Work compost through the backfill, plant slightly high on heavy clay, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper as the roots go down. A complete slow release feed in late winter and again in early summer is all it asks.

Pruning. Keep it light and prune only after flowering. Magnolias are slow to reshoot from bare old wood, so shape the framework early and leave it alone.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in a single size, a 400mm pot. That is an established young tree with a formed leader rather than a tube, so you start well ahead of seedling stock and it is usually old enough to flower in its first season or two.

Because it is deciduous, a plant sent between late autumn and late winter arrives bare or close to it. That is normal, not a fault. Expect a quiet first season while the roots take hold. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete guide to magnolia tree care in Australia
• Browse the full magnolia range
• Saucer Magnolia, for a pink bare wood display
• Deciduous trees for seasonal change

Common questions

Will it flower in a warm climate?

It needs winter chill to flower properly, so cool temperate and warm temperate gardens get the best result. In subtropical and tropical districts flowering is patchy, and an evergreen magnolia is the better buy.

How quickly does it grow, and how big will it get?

Around 30 to 50cm a year once established, reaching about 6m tall and 4m wide. That is a tree you can live with in an average suburban yard.

Is it safe to plant near paving or pipes?

The root system is fleshy and non-invasive, unusual for a tree this size, so it is one of the safer choices beside drives and paths. Leave about 2m of clearance as good practice.