Magnolia denudata

yulan magnolia

Central and eastern China (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang; mixed forests at 1,000-5,000 ft / 300-1,500 m); cultivated in Chinese temple gardens since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Fragrant (moderate)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Magnolia denudata is a medium deciduous tree reaching 30-40 feet (9-12 m) tall with a spread of 25-35 feet (7.5-10.5 m) and a rounded to broadly spreading crown. Ivory-white goblet-shaped flowers 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) across with 9 thick, fleshy tepals open on bare branches in March and April and carry a sweet, lemony fragrance. Bloom duration is 2-3 weeks. The early bloom period puts the flowers at risk of late-frost damage, which can brown or destroy an entire flush in a single night. Alternate obovate leaves 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long emerge after flowering, medium to dark green above with a paler, slightly pubescent underside. Cone-like aggregate fruits 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long ripen pink-red in autumn. The bark is smooth and gray. Growth rate is moderate, 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) per year in youth. Hardy to USDA zone 5. Non-toxic. The species has been cultivated in Chinese temple gardens for over 1,400 years and is a parent of M. x soulangeana (crossed with M. liliiflora) as well as many yellow-flowered garden hybrids produced with M. acuminata.

Native Range

Magnolia denudata is native to central and eastern China — Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces — in mixed forests at 1,000-5,000 feet (300-1,500 m). The species has been cultivated in Chinese temple gardens since at least the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE).

Suggested Uses

Used as a specimen in medium to large residential and public gardens in zones 5-9 at 25-30 foot (7.5-9 m) spacing. The pure white flowers on bare spring branches give a different visual character from pink-flushed M. x soulangeana. The 30-40 foot (9-12 m) mature size calls for a setting with adequate space. Late-spring frost can destroy a flush of open flowers, so frost-pocket sites are poorly suited. The species is a parent of M. x soulangeana and of yellow-flowered hybrids produced with M. acuminata, which is often cited by collectors. Not suited to small gardens, alkaline soils, drought-prone sites, or exposed frost pockets.

How to Identify

Identified by pure ivory-white goblet-shaped flowers 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) across with 9 thick fleshy tepals opening on bare branches in March and April, with a sweet lemony fragrance. Compared with M. x soulangeana, flowers are pure white rather than pink-flushed and the form is a more upright goblet. Compared with M. stellata, flowers are 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) rather than 3-4 inches (8-10 cm), with 9 broader tepals rather than 12-18 narrow strap-shaped tepals, and the mature tree is 30-40 feet (9-12 m) rather than 10-20 feet (3-6 m). Compared with M. cylindrica, flowers open into a wider goblet rather than remaining cylindrical, and the tree is larger at maturity.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 40'

Width/Spread25' - 35'

Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Ivory-white goblet-shaped flowers 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) across with 9 thick fleshy tepals open on bare branches in March and April, carrying a sweet lemony fragrance. Bloom duration is 2-3 weeks, and late-spring frosts can destroy an entire flush overnight. Cone-like aggregate fruits 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long ripen pink-red in autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Ivory-white; goblet-shaped 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) across; 9 thick fleshy tepals; sweet lemony fragrance; March-April on bare branches

Foliage Description

Medium to dark green above; paler, slightly pubescent beneath; alternate obovate 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam silt

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

8-12 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to partial shade in moist, rich, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil at pH 5.0-6.5. Hardy to USDA zone 5. Late-spring frosts can destroy the flowers of an open flush; a south- or west-facing sheltered site and a position out of frost pockets reduce this risk. Mulch the root zone 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) deep to retain moisture. Transplant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown in early spring; magnolias are slow to recover from root disturbance. Scale insects and magnolia scab can occur occasionally.

Pruning

Prune in late spring immediately after flowering if needed. Established trees develop their rounded form without intervention and require little pruning. Remove dead, crossing, or damaged branches. Heavy cuts into older wood heal slowly on magnolias and are better left to structural necessity only.

Pruning Schedule

late spring