Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion
Hybrid magnolia
Magnolia liliiflora × Magnolia stellata
Whole tree — Magnolia. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeF. D. Richards from Clinton, MI ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
Problems to recognize in WNC gardens. These are documented susceptibilities, not a local outbreak report or a diagnosis. Weather, elevation and growing conditions change the risk.
Diseases & similar-looking injury
Leaf spots and occasional cankers may occur. Early-flowering magnolias can lose blooms to frost without having a disease.
Insects to recognize
Magnolia scale is a key insect to recognize: attached bumps on twigs, sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
When to look
Check twigs and sticky foliage during the growing season; assess flower damage after late frosts.
A useful first step
Identify scale before choosing control timing. Compare normal seasonal leaf shedding with persistent leaf loss or branch dieback.
More growing details
Read the leaves
Leaves support the magnolia group; flower shape, flower timing, and provenance are needed for a named hybrid or cultivar.
Read the bark
Smooth gray bark and encircling stipule scars on twigs provide supporting clues.
Fruit & seed
Cone-like aggregate fruits may develop, though fruit set varies among hybrid selections.
Winter character
Large silky flower buds distinguish the flower-bearing tips.
Origin & place
An introduced garden species or horticultural hybrid; study it as part of WNC landscapes rather than assume it belongs to the native mountain flora.
WNC Notes
A cultivated magnolia hybrid with variable habit, flower color and timing. Check the expected mature size and local frost exposure.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
10–15
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
8–12
BLOOM SEASON
Mid spring; occasional rebloom
BLOOM COLOR
Purple-pink
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Yellow
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low
At Lynn’s Nursery · Jane
Magnolia × 'Jane' Summer/Fall 2026 catalog. Confirm current availability with the nursery. Mature height × width: 10–15 ft × 8–12 ft. Light: Full sun to part shade. Habit: Multi-stem, rounded small tree. Flowers & season: Purple-pink cups; early spring. Spring focal tree; shelter flower buds from late frost.
LOOK CLOSELY
Two views, a closer look.
Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.
Whole tree — Magnolia. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeF. D. Richards from Clinton, MI ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Species reference; does not confirm the named variety. Photograph subject: Shrub with large pink, tulip-shaped flowers on bare branches.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.magnolia leaf photographed by David J. Stang. Observe the smooth edge and simple blade; the source identifies the named hybrid.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadePhoto by David J. Stang ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.magnolia trunk and bark — species reference; named cultivar identity not inferred.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadePhoto by David J. Stang ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; original composition retained.
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