Fairy White Magnolia

Michelia yunnanensis×doltsopu ‘White’ | Syn. Magnolia hybrid ‘MicJur05’ or Michelia doltsopa ‘Fairy White’

Other Names: White Fairy Magnolia, Port Wine Magnolia

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7b–11 (7a with protection) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 6-12′ depending on pruning

Width at Maturity: 4-7′ depending on pruning

Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedges; 10′ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 2.5-3″

Flowering Period: Early to Late Spring and sporadically through Summer into Fall

Flower Type: Single and Semi Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Medium to Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Afternoon Sun, All Day Lightly Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average; Moderately drought tolerant when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained; Moderately drought tolerant when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Description

Recently introduced to the gardening world, Fairy Magnolias are unique, very dense and bushy evergreens that display an extraordinary profusion of deliciously fragrant flowers. From early to mid spring and sporadically through summer and into fall, ‘Fairy White’ features LOADS of very pretty single to semi-double white flowers in an abundance like you’ve never seen on an evergreen magnolia. Unlike other magnolias that produce their flowers only at the stem tips, Fairy White produces her flowers all up and down the stems and branches. Rich green foliage serves as the perfect backdrop to showcase the flowers. An upright bushy habit 6 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide, depending on pruning, makes her a fine selection for a specimen in small garden spaces or in groupings or as a flowering hedge or privacy screen where space allows. As the plant grows taller lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small specimen tree. Especially nice around patios and other outdoor sitting and living spaces where the dazzling and fragrant flowers can be enjoyed from close up. Easy to grow in the ground or containers in most any well-drained soil and sun to part shade, Fairy White deserves a spot in every garden where it will grow: USDA Zones 7a-11.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet wide depending on pruning, the Fairy White Magnolia is ideal for use as a specimen in small garden spaces or in groupings or as an evergreen flowering hedge or privacy screen where space allows. Its smaller stature makes it perfect for use as an accent tree, espalier, or to frame corners in home foundation plantings. Very nice in the ground or containers near patios, decks, porches and other outdoor sitting and living spaces where the beautiful flowers and wonderful fragrance can be enjoyed from close up. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, white theme gardens and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 4 to 5 feet apart for a solid hedge; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The Fairy White Magnolia is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. It prefers an acid to neutral soil ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale. It grows well in full sun or part shade. We suggest at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering and foliage density. Very heat and humidity tolerant. We’ve noticed in our hot and humid north-central Georgia gardens that the foliage is darker green in filtered sun during the midafternoon hours. No pruning is necessary, however as the plant grows taller lower branches can be removed to a desired height to form a small tree.

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