Scientific Name: Magnolia stellata
Common Name: star magnolia
Family Name: Magnoliaceae
Origin: S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Zone: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Plant Type: Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 2 - 3m x 2 - 3m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading, Upright
Form: Oval - vertical, Round
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Specimen plant, Spring interest
Exposure: Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade, Sheltered
Soil or Media: Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Elliptic, Oblanceolate, Obovate, Entire
Flowers: Flowers solitary, White, Pink, Mar-Apr
Fruit: Aggregate fruit, Follicle, Orange, Green, Red, Sep-Oct
Key ID Features:
Tree multi-stem, compact, bushy; smaller in habit/size/leaves, branches lower than other magnolias; leaves <10cm, buds densely silver pubescent; flowers star-like, <13cm across, most with 25-30 strap-like, white tepals, first magnolia to flower (M. 'Royal Star' has slightly pinkish flower buds which open up to 2 weeks later than species). Winter ID: twigs with grey pubescence; flower buds mostly 1-2cm long with dense silver hairs.