Woodie's Picks: Summer Blooming Magnolia Tree Favorites
In the intense heat of summer, it can be more difficult to take in all the beauty that the season has to offer when you're melting under the hot summer sun. That's why this week, Woodie decided to highlight one of his favorite summer shade trees: The Southern Magnolia!
Keep reading to learn all there is to know about Southern Magnolia trees and why they are the perfect summer statement piece for your landscape! Then, dive into Woodie's favorite Magnolia cultivars!
Magnolias: The Perfect Summer Tree
There are endless reasons to love the southern beauty that is the Magnolia tree...but we are here to highlight a few standout benefits.
Drought Tolerance
The number one reason many opt to grow a Magnolia tree in the heat of summer is for their impeccable drought tolerance! Magnolias are extremely hardy and are known to tolerate fluctuation and soil moisture with ease. Additionally, these trees will readily tolerate poor soil conditions like clay.
Pollinator Magnet
The next benefit summer Magnolia trees offer is the nectar they supply to local pollinators. Magnolias are known to help pollinators, specifically beetles, because their flowers have a unique shape and thick texture that more easily allows beetles to pollinate them.
Low Maintenance
The final benefit of Magnolia trees, beyond their captivating beauty and gigantic blooms of course, is their low maintenance nature. These specimen generally do not require pruning, and they are readily disease resistant making them extremely easy to grow and care for.
Woodie's Favorite Summer Magnolia Varieties
Little Gem Magnolia: A Compact Beauty for Any Garden
The Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem') is a remarkable evergreen tree that brings year-round beauty to any garden. This compact variety of the Southern Magnolia is prized for its glossy, dark green leaves with a rich bronze underside, providing a stunning visual contrast. Its creamy white, fragrant flowers bloom throughout the summer, attracting pollinators and adding a touch of elegance to your landscape.
The Little Gem Magnolia is perfect for smaller spaces, growing to a manageable height of 20 to 30 feet, making it an ideal choice for urban gardens patios, and as an accent tree in larger landscapes.
Incorporating Little Gem Magnolia into Your Landscape
Incorporating the Little Gem Magnolia into your landscape design offers multiple benefits. This drought-tolerant tree thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various soil types, including clay and loam. Its slow to moderate growth rate and dense foliage make it an excellent choice for privacy screens, hedges, or foundation plantings.
Additionally, the Little Gem Magnolia's minimal maintenance requirements and resistance to pests and diseases make it a low-maintenance option for homeowners. By planting this versatile and visually appealing tree, you can enjoy the charm and fragrance of magnolia blossoms without the need for extensive care or irrigation.
Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia: A Showstopper in Any Landscape
Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Bracken's Brown Beauty') is an exceptional evergreen tree that adds elegance and resilience to any landscape. Known for its striking, glossy, dark green leaves with a rich, rust-colored underside, this Southern Magnolia variety captivates with its visual appeal.
The tree produces large, fragrant, creamy white flowers from late spring to summer, attracting pollinators and filling the garden with a delightful scent. With a symmetrical, pyramidal shape and a compact growth habit, Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia stands out as an excellent choice for urban gardens and formal landscapes and as a focal point in larger garden settings.
Incorporating Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia into Your Landscape
Incorporating Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia into your landscape design offers multiple benefits, particularly for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant tree. This magnolia thrives in various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, and performs well in both full sun and partial shade. Its dense, evergreen foliage makes it ideal for use as a privacy screen, windbreak, or hedge, providing year-round interest and structure.
Bracken's Brown Beauty Magnolia is a versatile addition to any garden with its moderate growth rate and impressive height, reaching up to 30-50 feet. Its resistance to pests and diseases and minimal pruning requirements ensure that this tree remains a beautiful and hassle-free feature in your landscape for years to come.
D.D. Blanchard Magnolia: A Stunning Landscape Feature
The D.D. Blanchard Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'D.D. Blanchard') is an impressive evergreen tree known for its large, glossy, dark green leaves with distinctive copper-colored undersides.
This Southern Magnolia variety captivates with its beautiful, fragrant, creamy white flowers that bloom in late spring and summer, creating a stunning contrast against the rich foliage—the D.D. Blanchard Magnolia's symmetrical, pyramidal shape makes it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest and elegance to any landscape. Its robust nature and striking appearance make it a popular choice for gardeners looking to enhance their garden with a resilient and visually appealing tree.
Incorporating D.D. Blanchard Magnolia into Your Landscape
Incorporating the D.D. Blanchard Magnolia, in your landscape, provides numerous benefits, especially for those seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant tree. This magnolia variety thrives in various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, and adapts well to full sun and partial shade conditions.
This tree's dense foliage and impressive height, reaching up to 50-60 feet, make it ideal for use as a privacy screen, windbreak, or a majestic specimen tree—additionally, the D.D. Blanchard Magnolia resists pests and diseases, requiring minimal maintenance and pruning. By planting this tree, you can enjoy year-round beauty, captivating flowers, and the practical benefits of a hardy, drought-tolerant addition to your garden.
Teddy Bear Magnolia: Compact Elegance for Modern Gardens
The Teddy Bear Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Southern Charm') is a compact, evergreen tree that brings year-round beauty and elegance to any garden. This unique variety is known for its dense, upright growth and glossy, dark green leaves with rich bronze undersides.
The Teddy Bear Magnolia produces large, fragrant, creamy white flowers throughout the summer, creating a stunning visual contrast against the deep green foliage. Its compact size, typically reaching 15-20 feet in height, makes it an ideal choice for smaller landscapes, patios, and urban gardens where space is limited but beauty is essential.
Incorporating Teddy Bear Magnolia into Your Landscape
Incorporating the Teddy Bear Magnolia into your landscape offers many benefits, particularly for those seeking a low-maintenance and drought-tolerant tree. This magnolia variety thrives in well-drained soils and prefers full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for various garden settings. Its dense foliage provides excellent screening and privacy, while its modest height makes it suitable for foundation plantings and accent trees.
The Teddy Bear Magnolia's resistance to pests and diseases ensures that it remains a beautiful, hassle-free addition to your garden. By planting this tree, you can enjoy its stunning flowers, rich foliage, and the practical advantages of a compact, drought-tolerant species year-round.
Shop Southern Magnolia Trees Online
No matter where you live, or what your summers are like, it's a guarantee that the breathtaking Southern Magnolia tree will make a grand statement in your landscape! Shop our wide collection of Southern Magnolia trees online today and enjoy shipment directly to your doorstep!