How to grow magnolia at home?

Magnolia

- a tree with incredibly beautiful flowers that will decorate your garden, make it bright and expressive, filling it with an alluring vanilla-lemon scent. And do not be afraid of her possible capriciousness: I will try to dispel all doubts and share the intricacies of growing and caring for magnolia.

Magnolia is a tree with incredibly beautiful flowers that will decorate your garden. A symbol of virgin purity in China, magnolia is held in high esteem with us. Its extraordinary beauty and delightful aroma have long been admired.

The extraordinary beauty and delightful scent of magnolia has long been admired. In the middle lane, it begins to bloom as early as April, when most of the trees are not even covered with leaves. Apparently, therefore, the huge flowers are surprising and delightful. Although magnolia is valued not only for its beauty. Its leaves, flowers, fruits and even bark contain essential oils - a unique antiseptic for hypertension, rheumatism and diseases of the digestive system.

Magnolia (named after the famous botanist P. Magnol) is one of the brightest representatives of the magnolia family, which has over 70 species. Its luxurious trees with a wide pyramidal or spherical crown can reach 5-8, or even 20 m in height. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be white, pink, purple, red, and even lilac. True, out of 120 varieties, only a few manage to grow in the middle lane (the rest are really capricious and simply will not survive our harsh winters): magnolia kobus, magnolia stellata and some of their hybrids. Later we will analyze them in more detail, but for now, let's discuss the nuances of growing this amazing plant.

Planting magnolia

Before you start planting a magnolia, you need to choose the right seedling: it must have a closed root system. You can read and see what else to look for when choosing seedlings in the following materials:

• All about planting fruit trees. Choosing a seedling. Choosing the landing time
• General recommendations for choosing a seedling and planting fruit trees
• Spring planting of trees and shrubs
• All About Closed Root Plants

Before you start planting a magnolia, you need to choose the right seedling The place for planting is determined in advance, given that the magnolia:

1. prefers areas protected from winds and drafts;
2. absolutely does not tolerate heavily limed soils: in them the roots hardly develop and may die. If the soil in your area is exactly like this, mix it with acidic peat, this will lower the pH;
3. grows poorly on heavy, waterlogged and sandy soils.

The best place for planting will be sunny, in the southern regions - a slightly shaded area with light fertile soil.

About landing dates most gardeners agree that it is better to plant magnolia in the fall, when young seedlings have already stopped growing, as if "falling into hibernation."Autumn planting should be done in mid-late October, when there are no severe frosts yet, and the unbearable heat is gone.

Opinions differed regarding the spring planting. Some gardeners believe that young magnolia saplings, like most trees, can be planted in the spring - in April. The latter insist that even small return frosts can cause irreparable harm to trees that have already begun to grow, after which rehabilitation will be long and, most likely, ineffective. To listen to such conflicting opinions or not is up to you. But think about whether the risk is justified: after all a properly planted seedling in the fall will take root almost 100%. 

Having chosen a place, we begin to prepare the landing pit. Please note that the size of the pit should be three times the volume of the root system of the seedling.

1. Having taken out the required amount of soil, mix it with rotted compost.
2. If the soil is too dense, add some sand.
3. Having prepared the earthen mixture, we place the seedling in the planting hole, in no case deepening the root collar, and fill it with the mixture so that a small hole forms around the tree.
4. Then we slightly compact the earth in the hole and water it well.
5. As soon as the water is absorbed into the soil, we mulch the trunk circle with peat / sand or cover it with coniferous bark.

Reproduction of magnolia

Magnolia reproduces easily vegetatively: by grafting, layering and cuttings, but if you wish, you can try to grow this plant from seeds. Let's take a look at each of the options.

Magnolia reproduces easily vegetatively

How to grow magnolia from seeds?

Sowing Magnolia Seeds is Better immediately after picking berries, in the fall, since it is rather difficult to keep them until spring. Since the seeds are covered with a very dense oily shell, they must first be scarified, that is, the shell must be mechanically destroyed (filed or chipped). After scarification, the magnolia seeds are washed in a mild soapy solution to remove the oily layer and rinsed in clean water. Having sown seeds to a depth of 3 cm in boxes with a universal substrate, they are removed to the cellar until spring. At the beginning of March, the boxes with seeds are moved to the windowsill, they are constantly monitored so that the substrate does not dry out, and they are waiting for the emergence of seedlings.

Young magnolia seedlings will not grow very quickly at first: in the first year of life they will reach somewhere 20-50 cm. Only after a year, the seedlings can be dived and planted on beds with light peat soil.

Reproduction of magnolia by layering and cuttings (vegetatively)

It is better to vegetatively propagate magnolia in the first years of life, so it will grow very quickly.

Magnolia propagates easily by layering Magnolia propagates easily layering... To do this, in the spring, it is enough to bend, sprinkle with soil and pin down a part of a low branch, and after 1-2 years powerful roots are formed on this branch. After root formation, the cuttings are carefully separated from the mother plant and "relocated" to the nursery for rearing.

There is nothing difficult in the reproduction of magnolia. semi-lignified cuttings, but the success of the experiment is guaranteed only if you have a greenhouse. Well, or its reduced version - a mini-greenhouse with bottom heating of the soil. Only in a mini-greenhouse will you be able to regulate the temperature and humidity of the air, which is extremely important when breeding magnolias in this way.

The best time for propagation of magnolia by cuttings is the end of June., it is at this time that it is actively growing. Cuttings are cut from young plants, 2-3 leaves are left in the upper part of each, and the lower part is treated with any root formation stimulator. Then they are planted in a container with a sandy substrate (clean sand or half mixed with perlite / peat), which should always remain moderately moist, covered with a lid and provide a temperature regime within + 19 ... + 22 ° C.Lower / higher temperatures and drying out of the substrate will lead to the death of the cuttings. Cuttings of almost all magnolias begin to take root after about 7-8 weeks, with the exception of cuttings of large-flowered magnolia, which take about 4 months to root. In open ground, rooted grown seedlings are planted only after a year.

Magnolia care

Magnolia is rightly considered not a particularly demanding plant to care for. But nevertheless, she will have to pay some attention.

Magnolia is very demanding on soil moisture, especially in the first three years of life.

Watering

Magnolia is very demanding on soil moisture, especially in the first three years of life. That's why

to water

it must be enough often and abundantly, and in extreme heat - not to allow the soil to dry out. Not only watering helps to preserve moisture, but also

mulching

: it perfectly insulates the roots (which is especially important in winter) and serves as a source of nutrients, while improving the structure of the soil and significantly reducing its drying out.

Shelter

Despite the fact that the magnolia, which is cultivated in our country (kobus, star-shaped and their hybrids) is winter-hardy, shelter will not hurt her. After all, even small return frosts can harm annual shoots and flower buds. To avoid frostbite, simply wrap the trunks in 2 layers of burlap. But remember: this must be done very carefully, magnolia has very fragile branches! The tree trunk circle also needs shelter, only it is necessary to cover it in late autumn, after the soil slightly freezes: this is the only way mice cannot equip their dwelling in the shelter.

Pruning

If a slight freezing could not be avoided, and the tops of the branches are still frozen, it is necessary to prune the branches to healthy wood, and cover the cuts with garden pitch. In addition, it is necessary to cut off all damaged, dry and crisscrossing branches inside the crown. And here formative pruning of magnolia is not needed. 

Fertilizers and feeding

Although magnolia is very responsive to fertilization, it is not recommended to feed her in the first 2 years of life... But three-year-old magnolia seedlings already need additional nutrients, so fertilization will be very useful. It is necessary to apply fertilizers from early spring to late August... Nitrogen, which increases the plant's propensity to freeze, can be used only until mid-July.

Fertilizer can be prepared by yourself using 20 grams of ammonium nitrate, 15 grams of urea and 1 kg of mullein, diluted in 10 liters of water... Fertilizer consumption for 1 tree is 40 liters.

You can also use a solution of complete mineral fertilizer "Kemira-Universal", for the preparation of which I dissolve 1 tbsp in a bucket of water. drug. There are also a number of fertilizers created specifically for feeding magnolia: for example, AGRECOL "For Magnolia".

And remember: everything is good in moderation. This is also true for fertilizers, the excess of which can only harm the plant. If an overdose does occur, which can be determined by old leaves drying out at the end of July, try to fix it with weekly abundant watering.

Pest control

Rodents and moles can cause irreparable harm to magnolias. The former gnaw the root collar of the plant and its roots, and the latter undermine the roots. And if you find that the trunk is damaged, treat the wounds with 1% foundation solution.

Rodents and moles can cause irreparable harm to magnolias. The spider mite, which is activated during a drought, can also be very harmful. The pest feeds on the lower part of the leaves, completely sucking the juices out of them, which leads to their death. You can read about how to cope with a spider mite using simple folk remedies in the article What are the folk remedies for dealing with spider mites and scabbards? and in the article Proven folk recipes for harmful insects.

Types and varieties of magnolia

Magnolia can be deciduous or evergreen. The first reacts to temperature changes only by changing the timing of flowering, and the second is not capable of withstanding large frosts at all, therefore, in the middle lane it is cultivated only in greenhouses with a certain temperature regime.

Among the 120 varieties of magnolia, there are not so many winter-hardy and relatively winter-hardy varieties. So, to winter-hardy varietiesthat can be grown without problems in the middle lane include:

• magnolia cobus (Magnolia kobus),
• magnolia star (Magnolia stellata),
• a hybrid of magnolias star-shaped and cobus - Magnolia Lebner.

To relatively winter hardy, in which only part of the flower buds freeze in severe frosts, include garden forms Ash and Soulange. 

Magnolia kobus

Kobus magnolia trees reach 8-12 m in height and are distinguished by an unusual crown, which in the first years of life has a pyramidal shape, which changes to spherical with age.

Magnolia Kobus Magnolia Kobus is rightly considered the most hardy and unassuming variety to care for, but it is rarely cultivated here. But the point is this: it will take about 30 years from the germination of the seeds until the period when the tree pleases with its color. Although those who know how to wait will be rewarded a hundredfold: in addition to the fact that the magnolia of the cobus variety is undemanding to care for, in April-May it will delight you with incredibly beautiful white flowers with a purple base. With the arrival of autumn, dark green leaves turn yellow-brown and fall off only by mid-autumn.

Magnolia stellata

More often it is a tree, less often it is a shrub, up to 5-6 m high, with a spherical or oval crown, magnolia stellate in width reaches 4.5 and even 5 m. During flowering, Magnolia stellata exudes a very pleasant, enveloping and persistent aroma.

Magnolia star

And the stellate magnolia blooms earlier than the others - in March-April, after which the whole tree is covered with dark green leaves up to 7-10 cm long, which by autumn become bronze-yellow.

Magnolia Loebneri (Magnolia x loebneri)

Lebner's magnolia is a hybrid of cobus and star magnolias, which took the best from its parents: the endurance and beauty of the crown of the former and the delightful aroma of the latter.

Lebner's magnolia Lebner's magnolia is a tree with a rounded crown, reaching a height of 9 m. The fragrant flowers of Magnolia x loebneri, white with a slightly pinkish tinge, bloom in April, and the green leaves all summer, just like the star magnolia, turn into yellow-bronze color.

Magnolia Soulangeana (Magnolia x soulangeana)

Magnolia Soulange is most often found in our markets.

Magnolia Soulange It is a 5-10-meter tree, in April-May, covered with a solid carpet of fragrant pink-purple flowers with a diameter of 10-25 cm, which resemble tulips. The dark green leaves of the Soulange magnolia turn dirty yellow by autumn.

Ash's magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla ssp.ashei)

One of the most beautiful and hardy deciduous magnolias - Ash's magnolia - will delight you with rapid flowering already at 2-5 years of age.

Ash's magnolia Ash's magnolia tree reaches a height of 5 and sometimes 7 meters and almost never suffers from recurrent frost. And the thing is that it blooms much later than other species - in the middle, and sometimes closer to the end of May. In addition, flowering lasts much longer than early flowering ones. Huge white flowers with a cream shade reach 25 and sometimes 30 cm in diameter, and amazing tropical leaves reach 50-70 cm in length.

In this article, I tried to reveal all the secrets of growing magnolia. But maybe for some of you they are not news at all, and magnolia has been growing in your garden for a long time? Share your impressions of growing this wonderful tree, I will be very grateful to you for that, because there is nothing more valuable than your own experience!

Magnolia - a tree of unique beauty

The beautiful delicate plant magnolia kobus evokes a special charm in spring, with its fragrant large flowers, and during the growing season attracts the eye with unusual decorative leaves and very bright fruits.

Magnolia is propagated by a seedling or cuttings, but this tree can also be grown from seeds. This process is laborious and requires a lot of effort and care from the gardener.

How to germinate magnolia seeds

Before planting, the seeds of magnolia must be peeled off. To do this, the seed is left at room temperature for a while, when the seeds fall out, they are immersed in water for 2-3 days. Swollen seeds, for better cleansing, need to be wiped through a sieve, then washed in soapy water (use only laundry soap). This is done in order to rid the magnolia seeds of oiliness, then they must be thoroughly washed from soapy water, if these procedures are not carried out, then most likely they will become moldy.

Planting magnolia

Choose a place for replanting a plant in a high place without stagnant water. The plant does not tolerate getting wet and vomits out. Magnolia seeds can be sown outdoors with at least 10cm deep furrows.

Crops for the winter are insulated with dry mulch or leaves with a layer of 20-25 cm. In the spring, the insulation is removed together with the top layer of soil to a sowing depth of 3-5 cm. If the soil is left unchanged, the seedlings will lag behind in the first year.

The best option is to sow the magnolia seeds in a deep container of soil around December. The depth of the container is important, since the plant has a long taproot, and if there is not enough space for its development, the plant will wither. Water abundantly and cover on top to prevent the soil from drying out. Store the container in a basement with a temperature of 0 +5 degrees. In early spring, you can move to a warm, bright room. Seedlings are planted in open ground in the second year, magnolia should be watered very carefully, since in the early vegetative period the plant is susceptible to the disease "black leg".

Home care

Magnolia loves permeable fertile soil. It is preferable to choose a place in the garden in partial shade and protected from server winds. Magnolia kobus blooms, grown from seeds for 8-12 years. Although magnolia kobus tolerates winter very well, however, the first two wintering periods, after planting the tree in open ground, must be insulated with dry material, and the crown must be furnished with branches of spruce branches in the form of a hut, or carefully wrapped with covering material.

If the top of the plant "grabs" in the cold, then in the further process of growth a bush will form, not a tree. If the seedling has not yet been planted in the ground, it is brought into the basement, it can be stored on a glazed balcony, but the pot should be insulated.

Following the recommendations and taking into account the peculiarities of care, you can get the result of the pride of any gardener, in the form of the unique beauty of a tree grown with your own hands. published

Magnolia is an incredibly beautiful tree, which is the brightest representative of the magnolia family. On average, they can reach a height of 6-10 m, and the highest - up to 20 m. They have a wide spreading crown of a pyramidal or spherical shape.

For many years now, flowers of simply unreal beauty have fascinated everyone who was lucky enough to watch their flowering. Magnolia blooms with bright purple, saturated red, delicate pink, as well as snow-white and lilac flowers.

Varieties and types

Magnolia Cobus tolerates frost well, which is a huge plus in our area. It reaches a height of 10-12 m. At the beginning of its growth, it has a crown in the form of a pyramid, which eventually becomes spherical. Until the end of summer, the foliage has a dark green color, which turns into a yellow-brown hue with the onset of autumn. The fall of foliage occurs closer to the middle of autumn.

The cultivation of this variety is considered quite difficult, for the simple reason that from the moment of planting seedlings (or seedlings), up to the moment of the first flowering, it can take about 30 years.

Star magnolia - presented as a shrub or as a tree, 4-6 m high and 4-5 m wide, with a spherical or oval crown shape. Flowering begins in March or April and is accompanied by a persistent, pleasant scent. The foliage, 6-10 cm long, has a dark green color, which acquires bronze-yellow shades closer to autumn.

Magnolia Lebner Is a hybrid of the two previous species, which combines a beautiful crown and a sweet, delicate aroma. The tree reaches a height of 8-9 m and at the same time has a round crown. White flowers with a slight pink tint, bloom closer to April. Bright green leaves, only by autumn change their color to bronze-yellow.

Magnolia Soulange - the most popular and most commonly used species for growing in harsh climates (cold winters). The tree grows to a height of 6-10 meters. Flowering begins closer to the month of May, when the whole tree is covered with unusually colorful, delicate, purple-pink flowers. With the onset of autumn, the dark green foliage begins to turn yellow.

Ash's magnolia - a very frost-resistant species, which for the first time begins to bloom already at 2-4 years of age. This majestic beauty rises to a height of 5-7 meters. It blooms closer to the month of May, therefore, it does not suffer from frosts, which can suddenly appear in April.

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Less winter-hardy varieties and types of magnolia

Magnolia naked - this species is common in the central and southern regions of China. Blossoming naked magnolia is one of the favorite plants of the Chinese. This is a tall bush or tree reaching a height of ten fifteen meters. The flowers are white, slightly creamy, cupped, up to fifteen centimeters in diameter. The winter period tolerates normally, freezing was not observed.

Magnolia lily - grows in the central and western regions of China. There, this blooming magnolia is found in humid lowlands along mountain rivers. Magnolia lily grows as a large bush or short tree.

Flowering occurs from May to July, the flowers are narrow bowls. Which are directed upwards and do not open wide. The flower has six petals - white inside and crimson-purple outside. In a harsh winter, freezing of annual shoots was noticed. This magnolia is best planted in locations protected from northerly winds and with moderate humidity.

Magnolia obovate - grows in Japan and is found in the Far East of Russia, on the Kuril Islands. In nature, a blooming magnolia is a tree reaching up to thirty meters. She has very large leaves, reaching one meter. No frost damage was found during the growing period. This magnolia prefers partial shade and fairly moist soils.

Magnolia cuven - a hybrid of willow magnolia and cobus magnolia. The magnolia tree of Cuven grows. The flowers are about ten centimeters in diameter, bell-shaped, white with a pleasant smell. Flowering occurs between April and May before the leaves open. All parts of the plant smell pleasantly of anise. It is quite winter-hardy and fast-growing species.

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Magnolia planting and care in the open field

The landing site should be protected from drafts and strong winds, in a sunny, slightly shaded area in the afternoon. The soil should not contain limestone. If it is still present, then you can lower the pH by adding a little sour peat.

Young seedlings are planted in the fall, this period is favorable because there is no longer a strong heat, and there is still time before frost. As for the spring planting, there is a high probability of unexpected frost that will lead to the death of the seedling.

The planting hole should be three times the size of the root system of the seedling.Mix the soil from this hole with compost, and if the soil turns out to be too dense, then you can dilute it with a little sand. Having placed a young tree in the hole, not lower than the level of the root collar, fill it with the finished mixture on top. Then lightly trample (so that the tree does not fall under its own weight) and moisturize well. After the water is absorbed, the area around the tree is mulched with peat.

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Watering the magnolia

Watering is the most important point when caring for magnolia, especially for young specimens (from one to three years of age). Moistening the soil should be abundant and frequent, and on dry days, also prevent the soil from drying out. Mulching will help preserve moisture in the soil after watering. In addition, mulch also protects the roots from freezing in winter.

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Fertilizer for Magnolia

Young trees (up to 2 years old) do not need feeding. But three-year-old youngsters can be fed. Fertilizers are applied only from the beginning of spring to the onset of autumn.

You can use ready-made complexes of mineral fertilizers, where the dosage is indicated on the package, or prepare yourself: dilute ammonium nitrate (20 g), urea (15 g) and mullein (1 kg) in 10 liters of water. Considering that one tree takes about 40 liters of liquid. Fertilizers are applied once a month instead of the usual scheduled irrigation.

There are cases when there is already enough fertilizer in the soil and the introduction of additional additives can lead to an overabundance. This can be determined by the fact that the leaves began to dry ahead of time (for example, in the month of July). You can try to remedy the situation by stopping feeding and increasing the dose of weekly watering.

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Magnolia in winter

Despite the fact that the considered types of magnolia are winter-hardy, shelter for the winter will not be superfluous. So, for example, you can wrap young shoots and buds that have already appeared with sacking, if there is a high probability of frost return. This must be done with extreme caution, since the branches are quite fragile.

Preparation for wintering is carried out in late autumn, and consists in covering the base of the trunk, the part that is closer to the ground. At the same time, they use all the tighter burlap. The main condition is that it is necessary to wait until the ground freezes a little, only after that you can proceed to the shelter. And all because otherwise mice can create their own shelter in this shelter.

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Magnolia pruning

Pruning is not carried out in order to form a crown, but only in order to get rid of dry, damaged and frostbitten parts. Places of cuts are lubricated with garden varnish for healing.

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Magnolia from seeds at home

Given that it is quite difficult to preserve the seeds, they are sown immediately after collection - in the fall. Since the seeds have a fairly hard oily shell, a scarification procedure will be required - the destruction of the shell by puncturing.

Then they are washed in a weak solution of soapy water, which allows you to get rid of the oily layer, and then rinse in clean water. Now you can sow to a depth of no more than 2-3 cm in seedling boxes using a universal substrate, and put them in a cellar or a dark, cool room before spring comes, when they need to be put on the windowsill, and periodically moisten them without drying out.

The first year of life, seedlings grow very slowly, so they begin to dive only a year later, when they reach a height of 40-45 cm, after which they can already be planted in open ground in light soil with peat. Do not forget that it is best to plant in the fall.

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Reproduction of magnolia by layering

Young trees (one or two years old) are best and will grow the fastest. The lowest-growing branch is selected as a layering and, without separating it from the tree itself, is buried in the ground and pinched for greater reliability.

After a year, when its own root system is formed at the place of dropping, it will be possible to carefully separate the cuttings from the mother plant and continue growing in a pot until it is ready for independent growth in the open field.

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Magnolia propagation by cuttings

It is carried out only in greenhouse conditions, where the lower heating of the soil is also guaranteed, otherwise the cutting will not take root. The best time for this type of breeding is at the end of June. Cut the cuttings so that each has 2-3 leaves, treat the cut with any means that stimulates root formation.

Bury the twigs in a container with sand, you can add peat. Constantly monitor the moisture content of the mixture. Cover the top with a jar or a cut-off bottle and ensure the air temperature is within 18-22 ° C.

Rooting in this method is observed after two months, the only exception is varieties with large flowers, their rooting occurs no earlier than four months later. But they are planted in open ground only after a year.

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Diseases and pests

Various rodents and moles can harm the root system of a tree, some gnaw the root collar and roots, and the latter destroy the root system. If you notice that the tree has been attacked, then immediate treatment of the damaged areas with a 1% solution of foundation should follow.

Another pest is the spider mite, which settles on the lower part of the leaf and feeds on its juice. As a result the leaf begins to turn pale and dry.

There are folk methods of dealing with this parasite: it is necessary to prepare an infusion of 40-50 g of dry leaves (stems) of tobacco, pouring them with a liter of boiling water. Dilute this solution with one more liter of water before use.

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The sound of the surf, the cries of seagulls, the warm sun and the scent of magnolia - all these sensations are inseparable. The hit of the "Ariel" ensemble of the 70s "In the Land of Magnolias" evokes associations with the alley of the southern sea city, planted with pyramidal giants in large snow-white flowers with an intoxicating aroma.

Magnolia grandiflora

Magnolia large-flowered in its natural environment is distributed in the southeastern United States, grows in swampy wooded lowlands and along muddy river banks. The magnolia is estimated to be over 100 million years old. Flowers and beetles that pollinated the plant have been found in dinosaur fossils in areas of North America and Asia.

In a favorable warm and humid climate, this evergreen tree reaches a height of 45 meters.

Spread across the planet

The peoples of Japan and China have beautiful romantic legends about how the magnolia appeared.

According to the official version, the French botanist Charles Plumier brought magnolia seeds to Europe and in 1703 named this plant after his colleague Professor Pierre Magnol. The extraordinary beauty of the tropical tree and the fragrance of huge, lily-like flowers conquered the European nobility. And the large-flowered magnolia spread in a short time throughout the countries of Europe and Asia.

Since 1734 Magnolia grandiflora has been cultivated in gardens as a cultivated plant. In Russia, the first large-flowered magnolia appeared in 1817. Scientists of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens have been accustoming the thermophilic beauty to our climate for about 40 years. Today it decorates the streets of Georgia, Central Asia, the Astrakhan region, the embankments of the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory.

Description Magnolia grandiflora

The genus of magnolias of the family of the same name has 240 species. An adult large-flowered magnolia tree is able to withstand short drops in temperature down to -14 ... -160 C. This feature helped the tropical giant to adapt in the Russian latitudes. In our area, this evergreen species grows up to 30 m in height. The straight and thick trunk of the tree, reaching 1.2-1.35 m in section, is densely covered with smooth leathery elongated leaves 12-25 cm long and 4-12 cm wide. The outer side of the leaf is dark green and glossy, the matte back side is brownish red.The wide pyramidal crown is strewn with huge, up to 25 cm in diameter, milky white single flowers from May to October. In October-November, pubescent cone-shaped fruits, 8-10 cm long, appear in place of the pistils. After ripening, the fruit is covered with seeds in a red fleshy peel, hanging on thin legs.

Magnolia Uses

Traditionally, any plant is grown for specific purposes: to obtain wood, medicines, resin, useful and tasty fruits. The main purpose of magnolias is to decorate gardens, to give delight in the aroma and beauty of the blooming crown. Magnolia grandiflora is actively used by landscape designers when creating compositions with other plants and as a single decorative tree.

In the USA, magnolia wood is used to make decorative items for interior decoration and beautiful furniture. Designers often use images and photos of large-flowered magnolia in interior design.

The perfumery industry in many countries uses magnolia essential oils in the production of cosmetic products. The flowers, leaves and young branches of large-flowered magnolia contain 5-14% oils, and the seeds contain up to 42% of essential oil saturated with stearic, oleic, palmitic, linolenic and other acids.

Pharmacological use of Magnolia grandiflora

The leaves and flowers of this plant contain about 2% of the alkoloid magnolin, which has a powerful hypotensive effect on the human cardiovascular system. Mainstream medicine uses Extractum Magnoliae grandiflorae fluidum to sustainably lower blood pressure for a long time. Due to the adrenolytic and hypotensive properties of the leaves and flowers of large-flowered magnolia, this plant is classified as poisonous, and any preparations based on it are taken strictly as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.

Chinese healers recommend drops and tinctures of large-flowered magnolia in the treatment of rhinitis and other respiratory diseases, for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (dysentery, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, flatulence), for fever and malaria.

Traditional medicine recommends tinctures from the bark, leaves and seeds of this type of magnolia for external use for joint diseases, fungal skin lesions, and hair loss. Rinsing the mouth with an aqueous tincture of seeds prevents the development of tooth decay, and ingestion eliminates intestinal parasites. The strong scent of magnolia flowers can cause dizziness and pain. Contact with the mucous membranes of essential oils from magnolia painfully irritates the site of the lesion. If such situations arise, you should go out into fresh air, and rinse the affected organs (eyes, nose, mouth) with water.

Reproduction of large-flowered magnolia

For the cultivation of this type of magnolia, a soil consisting of humus, peat and sand in proportions of 3: 2: 2 is recommended. Reproduction of a beautiful magnolia is possible in three ways:

1. Seeds. The berries harvested in late autumn are cleared of juicy oily pulp: the peel is pierced and peeled from the seeds, or the seeds are ground with sand. The seeds washed in clean cool water are placed in a wooden container with universal soil for winter storage and are removed to a cool, dark place, for example, in a cellar, until spring. In March, the seeds are exposed to a sunny place and watered regularly. Sprouted shoots are transplanted into separate containers. In the first year, seedlings grow up to 30-45 cm. Young trees are planted in open ground in the second spring.
2. Layers. On a young 2-5 year old tree, the lower branch is gently bent to the ground and covered with soil. During the year, a root system is formed at the place of the powder and the shoot is deposited in a new place.
3. Cuttings. Recommended if there is a greenhouse with a constant temperature of + 19 ... + 220 C. In June, strong semi-lignified cuttings with 2-3 leaves are cut and planted in moist soil.Rooting occurs with regular watering after 3-4 months. To speed up the process, the cutting is dipped in a root formation stimulator before planting.

Experienced gardeners note that cuttings and cuttings take root better at temperatures from + 150 ... + 260 C in moist peat soil.

Growing Magnolia grandiflora

Only a patient and enthusiastic gardener can grow a beautiful healthy large-flowered magnolia. When choosing a place to plant a magnolia seedling, you should consider some points:

• Magnolia grandiflora does not like drafts and strong winds. In sunny areas it blooms in mid-April.
• Does not tolerate calcareous soil. When planting and feeding, it is recommended to add peat to the soil.
• For the first 3-4 years, the soil should not be allowed to dry out in the summer heat. Mulching the soil around the tree helps to maintain moisture.
• When replanting, a hole is dug 3 times the size of the tree's root system. The bottom is covered with humus, peat and sand, the soil is watered and compacted around the tree. The resulting hole is covered with the bark of coniferous trees.
• The first 2-3 wintering after the first small frosts, it is better to wrap young trees with soft sacking and insulate the near-trunk circle.

In the open field, magnolia reaches 30 meters, although it grows very slowly at 10 years. In the first year, young seedlings do not require feeding. From the second year, the plants are fed in April-July once a month. The optimal nutrient mixture for large-flowered magnolia is 15 g of urea, 20 g of saltpeter and 1 kg of mullein diluted in 10 liters of water. One seedling requires 40 liters of nutrient solution.

Pruning of branches growing inside the pyramidal crown is carried out in the fall, after the end of flowering.

Features of growing large-flowered magnolia at home

In a house, apartment, winter garden, large-flowered magnolia feels great in a sunny place near a window in a large tub. A tree limited by space at home grows up to 1-1.5 m.In the summer months, it is necessary to keep the soil constantly moist, in winter it is less likely to water. Short-term drying of the soil is allowed. The crown is pruned in the fall after flowering.