Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette

Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette is a deciduous spreading small to medium-sized magnolia with a profuse flush of small double star-shaped flowers in March and April. It’s a smaller variety with a narrower base that’s suitable for compact gardens.

Magnolia are ancient plants found in the fossil record and native to the Far East and the Americas. They were discovered and named by French botanist Pierre Magnol with the first specimens appearing in the UK in the 1600s. Magnolia Loebneri is a cultivar bred in Germany by crossing Magnolia Kobus  (Japanese) and Magnolia Stellata to produce small growing bushes or trees with profuse large flowers. It’s a respected hybrid type with many individual cultivars including the always popular Magnolia Loebneri Leonard Messi and Magnolia Leobneri Merrill.

The variety Magnolia Pirouette is a perfect example of the breed. Developed in the USA it has compact growth that’s narrower at the base combined with lightly scented stunning double white flowers that bloom in early spring on bare branches. Mid green ovate foliage emerges after the flowers are spent and remains on the shrub until the autumnal frosts.

This is a good magnolia choice for compact, sheltered gardens that need height and a touch of gorgeous flowers early on in the year.

Height And Spread of Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette
This is a neat and bushy compact magnolia that reaches 4-8 metres and spreads across 2.5 metres over 10 years. 

How Hardy Is Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette
This is a cold-hardy magnolia if its roots are well-drained, but its buds are susceptible to frost. Take care to plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot.

How To Use Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette
Magnolia Pirouette is a stunning specimen shrub or tree in a sunny, sheltered border or as an ornamental display in the lawn. It suits country cottage style gardens with its pretty blooms and urban courtyards with its architectural upright growth and modern white flowers.

How To Care For Magnolia Loebneri Mag's Pirouette
Magnolia Pirouette is unusual in that it will grow in most types of soil including chalk although it does prefer neutral to acidic soil. If you have chalky soil beef it up with ericaceous compost and pine-based mulch for the best flower display.
Choose a sheltered position in full to partial shade that’s preferably south or west facing. If a heavy frost is forecast in March or April cover the buds with horticultural fleece.
There’s no need to prune this magnolia but if it’s necessary you can remove crossed or broken branches in midsummer.
Take care to water it until it’s firmly established because the number one killer of small trees is lack of water.