Plant Encyclopedia

Description:

A hybrid magnolia which is bathed in large creamy yellow flowers in spring; upright habit of growth with a central leader and large, coarse leaves; an excellent specimen tree, best located where its flowers can be appreciated close-up

Ornamental Features

Yellow Lantern Magnolia is smothered in stunning fragrant lemon yellow cup-shaped flowers with tan overtones held atop the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The large pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Yellow Lantern Magnolia is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and 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.

Yellow Lantern Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Yellow Lantern Magnolia will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 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 medium 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.