Climate Dictates The Species of Flowering Magnolia Trees

Your climate and planting zone will dictate the type of flowering magnolia tree you should purchase.  If you live in a warm climate, you may want to purchase a “southern magnolia,” but if you live in a colder climate, you may want to purchase a Magnolia that will shed its leaves in the fall.

One of the best online sites to visit for information on the Magnolia tree is http://www.bhg.com/home/Magnolia-Tree.html. This site offers a lot of background information on the different variations of magnolia trees. For each different type of Magnolia tree, you will find information on size, as well as how and when it blooms.

Another great site on Magnolia trees is located at www.treehelp.com. This sites gives you basic information on the tree, as well as information on what type of soil you should plant the tree in. Putting the correct nutrients into the soil will also be crucial task after you purchase your tree; if you fail to do so, you could end up with a tree so sick that you will need to constantly prune.

In addition to finding the right magnolia tree for your climate, you will also want to make sure that you regularly maintain it once you have made the purchase. For instance, if your Magnolia develops spots on its leaves, you will want to rake those leaves when they hit the ground and separate them from the tree. And if your Magnolia begins to develop spots on its branches, you will want to trim those branches to prevent the cankers from spreading.

Described in a lot of territories as the fairest flower there is, the magnolia has always been a popular flower, either as ornament for a garden or landscape, or as a token of one's love for a lover or a loved one.  One of its varieties, the Southern Magnolia, has in fact been proclaimed as the state flower of Louisiana, a testament to how much this bloom is truly loved.  With white, thick petals that open up to reveal an exquisite nectar, the shape and size of the magnolia flower is beyond compare, more so when they remain attached to the magnolia tree, creating the effect of an illuminated natural structure.

Indeed, the magnolia tree is a desirable garden option for this reason.  A lot of gardeners, horticulturists and landscape artists find many aesthetic uses for the tree type in the layouts they have in mind.  The magnolia tree will never fail to brighten up any bland corner of the garden, for example.  It also has its own, splendid way of inviting a cool breeze, even during the hot, summer months.

The magnolia tree is also known for its smooth dark green, spherical leaves with pointed edges.  Coupled with the flowers at full bloom, the conflicting hues produce a magical effect.  

This tree type, however, covers a lot of breadth when its branches expand.  It can grow up to 25 feet high, but its width can be as long as 20 feet.  Hence, pruning is a strict requirement if ever you will grow one of these trees on your backyard.  You won't want them to encroach on the territories of other plants, or worse, on the area of established structures.  Do time your pruning schedule right after most of the leaves fall, which happen once, or every other, year.

Magnolias, given their color, are sure to add a lot of personality and life to any garden.  The trees themselves aren't really what we can consider as high maintenance.  They grow well in most climatic conditions, though they do need an adequate amount of sunlight once they grow to full maturity.  While they're saplings, however, they can tolerate shades. 

This tree grows well in any soil type that has average acidity and water retention.  Though not picky about soil, the flowering magnolia does not like "wet feet" or over watering.