Star Magnolia

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is the small magnolia for gardens that cannot take a full sized one, settling at about 3m tall and 2.5m wide over many years. In late winter the bare branches open into star shaped flowers, white flushed with pink, each one built from a dozen or more narrow strap like petals and lightly fragrant. It is slow, well mannered and not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when nothing else does. The display arrives on bare wood in late winter, weeks before most gardens have woken up.
• Small enough for a real garden. At 3m by 2.5m it fits a courtyard, a front bed or a large pot without ever needing to be cut back to fit.
• Scented up close. A light, clean fragrance that carries a metre or two, best placed near a path or a doorway.
• Safe near paving and pets. The roots are non invasive and the plant is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One plant against a dark hedge shows the flowers off properly, because pale petals need a plain background.

Small gardens and courtyards. The modest canopy and quiet roots let it sit close to a path or a paved area without causing trouble later.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider suits it, and container growing naturally holds it under 2m. Potted magnolias dry out fast in summer, so be realistic about the watering.

Growing Star Magnolia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with shelter from hot afternoon sun and drying wind, which brown the petals and scorch the leaf edges. This is a plant for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens: Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, the tablelands and the cooler parts of Perth and Sydney. It is frost hardy, and a cold winter improves the flowering. Humid subtropical and tropical gardens do not give it the chill it needs.

Soil. Well drained, slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. It will not accept waterlogging, so raise the bed on clay. Mulch 75mm deep and clear of the trunk, because the surface roots dislike disturbance.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then water in dry spells. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, after flowering rather than before it.

Pruning. Almost none. Remove damaged or crossing wood straight after flowering, and never shear it, because next season's buds form through summer.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 300mm and 400mm pots, and as a 750L specimen. The 300mm is a young multi stemmed plant that flowers within a season or two but takes years to build width. The 400mm is the usual garden choice. The 750L is a mature specimen for a landscape project, and it needs machinery and a prepared hole.

Ordered in the cold months it will arrive bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous magnolia. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the complete guide to magnolia care in Australia
• Browse the full magnolia range
• Compare small magnolia varieties
• See more plants for small gardens

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, around 15 to 25cm a year once settled. That is the trade off for a magnolia that will never outgrow a small garden.

Can I keep it in a pot permanently?

Yes, in a pot 500mm or wider with free draining acidic mix. It will hold under 2m, though it needs watching through summer heat and repotting every three to four years.

Will late frost damage the flowers?

The plant is frost hardy, but an open flower can brown in a hard frost. Planting out of the worst cold air usually avoids it.