Description:

A hybrid magnolia selected for its large, deep yellow cup-shaped flowers in spring, and spire-like columnar habit of growth; flowers appear late, after danger of frost is past; an excellent specimen for tight spaces and smaller home gardens

Ornamental Features

Sunspire Magnolia is covered in stunning fragrant yellow cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The large pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. The fruits are showy pink pods displayed in early fall.

Landscape Attributes

Sunspire Magnolia is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and 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. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Sunspire Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Sunspire Magnolia will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast 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 quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.