Plant Encyclopedia

Description:

An impressive magnolia selected for its lovely, deep burgundy-red tulip-like flowers, emerging in spring before the leaves; a large growing, vigorous variety that will make a fine ornamental landscape specimen

Ornamental Features

Black Tulip Magnolia is smothered in stunning fragrant burgundy cup-shaped flowers with red overtones held atop the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Black Tulip Magnolia is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Black Tulip Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Black Tulip Magnolia will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.