Magnolia Rose Marie

Magnolia Rose Marie is a deciduous long-blooming pink magnolia that was bred to flower later in the season to avoid frost. It’s an impressively ornamental small tree with glossy green foliage and large goblet flowers.

Magnolias are ancient flowers dating back at least 95 million years in the fossil record. Once worldwide, they are now only native to the Far East and South America. Magnolias were discovered by Europeans in the 15^th century and named after the explorer and botanist Pierre Magnol. The first recorded magnolia in Britain was purchased by the Bishop of London in 1687.

The Rose Marie cultivar was bred by American magnolia specialist Dennis Ledvina to flower late in April and May and avoid frosts that can so badly damage magnolia buds. Rose Marie has deciduous dark glossy green foliage that turns yellow and orange in autumn and large goblet-shaped multi-pink blooms. Its blooms are fragrant and pale pink in the centre but red-pink on the outer. It’s one of the longest flowering magnolias with blooms lasting six weeks into July.

Height And Spread Magnolia Rose Marie
This is a small magnolia that reaches a maximum height and spread of four metres over 10 years.

How Hardy Is Magnolia Rose Marie
Given well-drained roots, full sun, and a sheltered location Magnolia Rose Marie is hardy in the UK down to freezing temperatures.

How To Use Magnolia Rose Marie
This is an excellent small ornamental tree for urban courtyards, compact gardens, and sunny roof terraces. Its vivid late spring to summer flowers blaze in a green garden.
Because Rose Marie is a small magnolia tree it’s a good choice for large pots on a patio, doorstep, or balcony.
Pair it with other late blooming magnolias in central or northern locations or alongside early blooming magnolias on the south coast for flower-centric continuity throughout spring.

How To Care For Magnolia Rose Marie
For the best flowers, magnolias need full sun and shelter from the cold wind in fertile neutral to acidic soil. Although Magnolia Rose Marie will grow in partial shade too, it will have fewer flowers. Avoid frost pockets. Even though this is a late bloomer, lingering frosts may still damage the buds.
Pruning isn’t required but unwanted or broken branches can be removed in late winter or early spring to maintain a healthy framework. It is very easy to over-prune a magnolia, so only remove a few branches at most.
Apply a thick layer of well-rotted pine or bracken-based acidic mulch in early spring and water it regularly until you see new growth.
Container-grown magnolias need regular magnolia-specific fertiliser in spring and summer. Be sure to raise the container on feet for adequate drainage.