Yellow Magnolias
The Scott Arboretum is home to a national collection of magnolias recognized through the American Public Gardens Association’s (NAPCC) North American Plant Collections Consortium. While many of the early spring flowering magnolias have passed, the yellow magnolias are just coming into their glory.
Many of the yellow magnolias are the result of crosses made between the cucumber tree magnolia, Magnolia acuminata, and the Yulan magnolia, Magnolia denudata. The combination of these two parents has resulted in many cultivars which are later flowering, some times fragrant and range from light yellow to a golden yellow.
At the Scott Arboretum we have over 20 different kinds of yellow magnolias in our collection. One of the very first to come on the market about 20 years ago was Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ which is a beautiful pale yellow selection hybridized by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1977. At maturity it will develop into a pyramidal shape and reach 20-feet tall. The upward facing flowers are butter yellow and have a nice fragrance. Some fine specimens of ‘Elizabeth’ are planted between Mertz Dormitory and Old Tarble.
In more recent years ‘Butterflies’ has become a popular yellow magnolia choice. This clone is the result of a cross made by famous magnolia hybridizer, Phil Savage. The parentage is Magnolia acuminata x Magnolia denudata ‘Sawadas’s Cream’. The flowers are darker yellow than those of ‘Elizabeth’ and also have showy red stamens. A beautiful specimen is found just below Worth Health Center.
‘Yellow Lantern’ has upward facing, cup-shape, butter yellow flowers. For this cross Phil Savage hybridized Magnolia acuminata var. subcordata with Magnolia x soulangiana ‘Alexandrina’. This cultivar can be found both in the Tree Peony Garden, as well as at Old Tarble.
My favorite yellow magnolia is ‘Judy Zuk’. This was named in honor of the former director of both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Scott Arboretum. This selection is very upright in stature. The flowers resemble tulips in their shape and are a beautiful suffusion of orange-yellow and pink toward the base. It has a fruity fragrance. Within one week ‘Judy Zuk’ will be in full flower. There is a specimen below the Clothier bell tower.
For the best viewing of yellow magnolias at the Scott Arboretum visit the area around Mertz Dormitory, Old Tarble and Worth Health Center, as well as the Tree Peony Garden.
nhnursery April 29, 2008 at 3:43 pm
A very beautiful tree and great pictures to view, thank you for sharing. It is a special time of the year when they are in bloom.
hph February 24, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Thanks for sharing such a gorgeous flower !
soledad garza March 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I need help , my husband got to Magnolia trees from a friend and the leaves are diferent than the ones at the garden store can you help me identify them ? They are long and light green , I can send a picture.
Thank you !!!
Becky Robert March 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm
We can try to identify the tree from images. Please send them to scott@swarthmore.edu with a note and any other details that might help us identify the plant.
Denise August 13, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I planted a yellow magnolia last spring’08 in zone 7 – south-east exposure. It is about 7 ft tall. No flowers this year. How long before I can expect to see the tree flower?
Andrew Bunting August 18, 2009 at 8:09 am
Denise,
Your plant should flower soon. Most magnolias will flower at a very young age.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Joanne DiJoseph, PA September 27, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I have a 75 ft sycamore that was hit by lightening in 08. It now needs to be cut down. My Landscaper suggested this tree. My concern it is a dirty tree.? I would have to rake all the flowers when the blooms come down. I had hip surgery and can not do some of the things I was able to do. I am looking for a nice shade tree to help give shade to my sun room.
Joanne DiJoseph
Pennsylvania
Andrew Bunting September 28, 2009 at 10:43 am
Dear Joanne,
When this magnolia flowers and the spent flower petals fall to the ground there really isn’t anything to rake up because the petals essentially wither away to almost nothing.
Andrew Bunting, Curator