Magnolia Grandiflora Alta or Bull Bay Alta

Magnolia Grandiflora Alta is an evergreen narrow version of the much loved Magnolia Grandiflora. It has large cup-shaped white blooms in summer and glossy green leaves. It’s a more manageable version of Grandiflora that’s perfect for compact gardens.

Magnolias are some of the oldest plants on record, their fossilised remains date back 95 million years. Magnolia Grandiflora was named after Pierre Magnol and it’s native to the southeastern United States.  The cultivar Magnolia Grandiflora Alta is synonymous with Magnolia Grandiflora TMGH and also known as Bull Bay Alta. It’s a fastigiate version of Magnolia Grandiflora that retains its huge lemon-scented goblet flowers but is much narrower in form.

Bull Bay Alta has dark glossy green foliage with brown furry undersides borne on upright fastigiate branches all year long. Its magnificent flowers emerge in summer and bloom until autumn if it’s grown in a sheltered spot that’s protected from strong winds.

This is a beautiful tree with the attributes of stately Magnolia Grandiflora, but repackaged for modern compact gardens and urban spaces.

Height And Spread of Magnolia Grandiflora Alta
Magnolia Alta is tall and narrow. It can reach six metres in height and 2.5 metres in spread over 5-10 years.

How Hardy Is Magnolia Grandiflora Alta
Magnolias are UK winter hardy in a sheltered spot with well-drained roots.

How To Use Magnolia Grandiflora Alta
This fastigiate evergreen tree creates an excellent flowering evergreen screen and lots of impact when it’s planted in a group, especially when it’s in flower.

Plant Bull Bay Alta in mixed informal flower beds or urban courtyards as an architectural statement tree with pollinator-friendly summer to autumn flowers.

How To Care For Magnolia Grandiflora Alta
Despite its delicate-looking flowers Magnolia Alta is easy to grow. It needs a wind-sheltered position to retain its blooms and frost may damage its buds, so avoid planting into frost pockets. A spot in full sun will encourage an abundant flower display.
Like all magnolias, Alta prefers neutral to acidic soil but this can be clay, loam or sand based.
Pruning isn’t necessary, but damaged or wayward branches can be removed after flowering or in the dormant winter months. Apply a thick layer of bracken or pine-based mulch in early spring and water it well until you see new growth.