Other Names:  Bull Bay

Description:

A visually stunning accent tree for home landscapes, smothered in showy and fragrant white cup-shaped flowers in spring; large glossy leaves with vivid yellow-gold variegation contrasting the deep green; a great screen, or street tree

Ornamental Features

Variegated Southern Magnolia is smothered in stunning fragrant white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has yellow-variegated dark green foliage with hints of gold. The large glossy pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy red pods displayed from early to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Southern Magnolia is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. 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.

Variegated Southern Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Variegated Southern Magnolia will grow to be about 70 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 50 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 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 70 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, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.