Magnolia stellata
From Japan, this small tree or large shrub bears star-shaped white flowers in early spring before the leaves, with fragrant blooms and a compact, rounded habit.
Common Names
Star Magnolia, Starry Magnolia
Summary
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a slow-growing deciduous shrub or small tree native to Japan, typically multi-stemmed with an upright to spreading habit that reaches about 15–20 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide. It is prized for its early spring blooms of white star-shaped flowers, sometimes with a pink flush, each composed of 12–18 narrow tepals and a light fragrance; buds open before foliage for a striking bare-branch display, with frost potentially damaging blooms. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–8 and prefers full sun to partial shade, thriving in moist, well-drained loams with acidic to neutral pH and tolerating clay soils.
For cultivation, plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, organically rich soil, with consistent moisture and mulch to retain moisture; avoid exposed, windy sites to protect buds from late frost. Prune after flowering if needed to maintain shape, and propagate by stem cuttings or seeds. In landscape use, it serves well as a specimen, foundation, or small-tree accent in gardens that tolerate cool winters, offering early-season color and fragrance and attracting pollinators.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
15-20 feet
Spread
120-180 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-9
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Loamy, moist, well-drained soil, organic-rich, slightly acidic to neutral.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil, Moist but well-drained soil
Soil pH
5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral soil
Bloom Color
White, sometimes with a pink flush.
Bloom Time
Spring (late winter to early spring)
Foliage Color
Green, bronze-green when new, turning to deep green in summer and yellow in autumn
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow-growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts insect pollinators (bees and butterflies); no explicit evidence of attraction for hummingbirds, other pollinators, or birds.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim.
- Publication
- Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg , sér. 3, 17: 418 (1872)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Magnoliales
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
- Genus
- Magnolia
Synonyms
Magnolia halleana Magnolia keiskei Magnolia kobus f. rosea Magnolia kobus var. stellata Magnolia kobus f. stellata Magnolia simi Magnolia stellata var. keiskei Magnolia stellata var. rosea Magnolia velutina Yulania stellata Magnolia kobus f. stellata Magnolia stellata var. rosea Yulania stellata Magnolia stellata f. rosea Magnolia rosea Talauma stellata Buergeria stellata