Description:

Named for it fastigiate habit, this tree features showy, fragrant, white cup-shaped flowers in early spring; relatively coarse leaves and a narrow upright habit of growth; a perfect landscape accent

Ornamental Features

Swarthmore Sentinel Magnolia is covered in stunning fragrant white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage which emerges chartreuse in spring. The large pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. The fruits are showy red pods displayed from early to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Swarthmore Sentinel Magnolia is a deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Swarthmore Sentinel Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

Swarthmore Sentinel Magnolia will grow to be about 35 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.