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
Patsy Scrooc May 25, 2010 at 11:50 am
I planted a yellow magnolia 6 years ago, for the last 4 years I have gotten only 4 or 5 blossoms and the tree has not grown much…what is my problem
Andrew Bunting May 28, 2010 at 8:19 am
Patsy,
If your magnolia is not growing much then I would guess you have some sort of physiological problems such as a girdling root, etc. Your magnolia should grow very quickly.
Andrew Bunting, Curator
janice June 2, 2010 at 10:22 pm
I live in the No. East and just planted a Yellow magnolia in May as a Mother’s Day gift from my Son, and wondering if I need to do anything as far as herbocides to protect it. Looks like something may have already started munching on leaves but not sure. I have mulched heavily around it and water daily. I have it planted in area of lots morning sun and I have lots of pine trees around my property. What else should I be doing to encourage growth and blooms? Am excited to see it bloom and was a special gift.
Thank you.
Rhoda June 6, 2010 at 9:59 am
Janice – You don’t want to use ANY herbicide on your magnolia; herbicides are formulated to kill specific plants. If you have a pest problem, you need to have the insect identified and the appropriate insecticide or cultural control recommended. From your description, you may be giving it too much love. Newly planted trees don’t need water every day unless we are in a very dry/drought spell. 2-3 times per week is plenty as long as you are deeply watering. Also make sure that you have not mulched too deeply. We have a blog post on this subject; the link is http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2009/03/mulching-woody-plants/.
Tuan Aitcheson April 27, 2011 at 4:52 pm
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Mario Barragan December 27, 2011 at 6:17 am
I’d like to buy some yellow magnolias trees, small ones. Where could I find them? Thank you
Andrew Bunting January 3, 2012 at 8:45 am
Mario,
The following are great mail order sources for yellow magnolias:
Rare Find Nursery: http://rarefindnursery.com/
Fairweather Gardens: http://www.fairweathergardens.com/
Andrew Bunting, Curator
Scott Arboretum
Michael Gruver January 22, 2012 at 10:55 am
Do you know which yellow magnolias are the hardiest? I’ve heard that some do well in zone 4 (where I live). Could you recommend some of the hardiest?
Andrew Bunting January 31, 2012 at 9:14 am
I think ‘Elizabeth’ would be your best bet.
Andrew Bunting, Curator