Magnolia liliiflora
lily magnolia
Overview
Magnolia liliiflora is a deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7 m) tall and 8-15 feet (2.4-4.6 m) wide, with a rounded, multi-stemmed, spreading habit. The leaves are alternate, broadly elliptic, 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath, turning yellow-brown in fall. Goblet-shaped flowers 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long open from late spring as the leaves expand, with 6-9 narrow tepals that are purple to reddish-purple outside and white to pale pink inside. A lighter rebloom often follows, scattered through summer. Cone-like fruit clusters ripen in fall and split to show red-coated seeds. Growth is moderate, with plants reaching mature size in about 10 years, and the late bloom usually escapes the frost damage that affects earlier magnolias. Flowers are lightly fragrant. The shrub is shallow-rooted, and its fleshy roots are easily harmed by digging or compaction around the base.
Native Range
Native to southwestern China, in mountain forests of Sichuan and Yunnan. Long cultivated in China and Japan, it is now grown in temperate gardens worldwide and is a parent of many hybrid magnolias.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen, in shrub borders, and in foundation and courtyard plantings, spaced 10-15 feet (3-4.6 m) apart. The early flowers draw bees, and the late bloom extends the magnolia season. Its shallow roots and spreading width make it less suited to small, confined spaces or planting close to walls and pavement.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8' - 12'
Width/Spread8' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from April through May, opening with or just after the leaves, later than star and saucer magnolias. The main bloom lasts about 2-3 weeks, with scattered flowers continuing into summer. Late bloom reduces the risk of frost damage to the open flowers.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
purple to reddish-purpleFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and does better with shelter from drying wind. Water regularly through dry spells, as the shallow roots dry quickly, and mulch to keep the root zone cool and moist. The fleshy roots recover slowly from digging or compaction. The plant does not tolerate alkaline soils, where leaves yellow from iron shortage. Few pests trouble it, though scale and occasional leaf spot occur. It can be left as a multi-stemmed shrub or trained to a small single-trunk tree.Pruning
Prune just after flowering, since flower buds for the next year form in summer on the current season's growth. Remove dead, crossing, or weak stems and shape lightly; magnolias seal pruning wounds slowly, so large cuts are kept to a minimum. It can be thinned to a tree form by removing lower stems over several years.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons