Description:

A stunning accent tree for general landscape use, featuring large vivid pink and white flowers in spring, neat foliage and a picturesque habit of growth; large growing and very adaptable

Ornamental Features

Dawson's Magnolia is clothed in stunning fragrant hot pink cup-shaped flowers with creamy white overtones at the ends of the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The large oval leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy pink pods displayed from early to mid fall.

Landscape Attributes

Dawson's Magnolia is a deciduous 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. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects
• Disease

Dawson's Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Dawson's Magnolia will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 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 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 species is not originally from North America.