Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia × soulangeana
A beloved hybrid flowering tree with large pink-and-white goblet blooms in early spring, often before the leaves. Frequently multi-stemmed and low-branched; late frosts brown the flowers, and magnolia scale is its chief pest.
Field reference
Family
Magnoliaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
20–30 ft tall, 20–30 ft spread
Hardiness zone
4–9
Soil preference
Moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
Right after flowering (summer); winter cuts remove next year's buds
Wood properties
Moderately soft, low-density wood on a low, multi-stemmed frame. Light rigging; pruning is mostly structural shaping after bloom.
Native range
Hybrid (Magnolia denudata × M. liliiflora) of garden origin; widely planted
Green weight
50 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Why did my magnolia's flowers turn brown overnight?
Saucer magnolia blooms very early, so a late frost easily browns the open flowers. Siting it where it warms up slowly — a north or east exposure — can delay bloom past the worst frost risk.
When is the right time to prune it?
Prune immediately after flowering in late spring. The tree sets next year's flower buds over summer, so dormant-season pruning sacrifices the following spring's bloom.
Related species in Magnoliaceae
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