Need a Magnolia for dry conditions: Call Dr. Moe!
Loebner magnolia is a natural hybrid of star and saucer magnolias. Its vigor and adaptibility to less than ideal conditions makes this a durable and popular landscape selection in the north. We had the thought-can it be reselected for a more unforgiving environment? With that in mind our means of selection was done on raising over a thousand seedlings of this hybrid and planting the best of twenty on top of a wind swept sandy hill top. (Pretty much the opposite of what you normally would do with a magnolia.) Eventually we found these selections that were more vigorous, able to grow in soil with little organic matter which eventually lead to heavy flowering, fruiting and seed production in years. Plants can be grown from seed with this hybrid selection. These are more shrub like but can be pruned up to from a single trunk.
| Plant Specs |
| Genus & Species |
Magnolia stellata x soulangiana |
| Seed Source |
Michigan |
| Hardiness |
-25 F |
| Height (ft) |
15-20 |
| Width (ft) |
15 |
| Pollination Requirements |
Flowers with star magnolia and does set seed. |
| Soil |
Sandy slightly acidic soil. |
| Climate |
Zones 3-8 |
| Ease of Cultivation |
This is the easiest magnolia to grow. Somewhat shade tolerant too. Once established will flower in 2-3 years. |
