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Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ – Sunsation Magnolia

About Your New Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ – Sunsation Magnolia

Magnolia 'Sunsation' is a deciduous hybrid magnolia grown for an unusual flower colour: large goblet shaped blooms in golden yellow, flushed rose to magenta at the base of each tepal. Flowering is heavy through spring on bare wood. The tree builds an upright, broadly pyramidal frame carrying broad green leaves through the warmer months.

It wants full sun to partial shade and fertile, well drained soil with consistent moisture through spring and summer. Growth is about 30 to 60 centimetres a year. Light to moderate frost is handled once established, and the yellow colouring holds best in cool temperate and temperate districts rather than warm humid ones.

Use it as a lawn specimen, a courtyard focal point or a statement tree in a front garden, where the spring flowering reads from a distance. It is long lived and settles in without fuss, which makes it a sound choice for gardens being planted for the long term rather than for quick effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Sunsation Magnolia

What is Magnolia 'Sunsation'?

It is a deciduous hybrid magnolia grown for yellow flowers, which are uncommon in the genus. The large goblet shaped blooms are golden yellow with rose to magenta staining at the base of the tepals, and they open on bare branches in spring. The tree carries an upright, broadly pyramidal frame.

How big does it grow?

Expect around 5 to 7 metres tall and 3 to 4 metres wide at maturity, with an upright habit that stays narrower than its eventual height for many years. It is a proper tree rather than a large shrub, so allow room for the canopy and keep it clear of eaves and overhead lines.

How fast does it grow?

About 30 to 60 centimetres a year, which is reasonably quick for a deciduous magnolia. Growth is strongest in fertile, well drained soil with consistent moisture through spring and summer. Trees held dry in their first summers grow slowly and take much longer to reach a size where the flowering counts.

When does it flower?

Through spring, roughly September to November, with the flowers opening on bare wood ahead of the leaves. In cooler districts flowering runs later and the yellow holds its depth longer. Warm weather during the flush shortens the display and can wash the colour back toward cream.

Is it evergreen or deciduous?

Deciduous. Foliage drops through autumn and winter, leaving a clean upright branch structure, and returns after the spring flowering. That habit is what allows the flowers to be seen without leaves in the way. It also means winter sun reaches the ground beneath, which suits underplanting with bulbs or perennials.

Does it need sun or shade?

Full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering and the best colour saturation, while light afternoon shade is useful in hot inland gardens to stop the blooms burning. Deep shade is not suitable and produces a sparse, drawn tree. Shelter from strong spring wind keeps the flowers intact longer.

How do I care for Sunsation Magnolia?

Water deeply through the first few summers, mulch to keep the shallow roots cool, and feed in early spring with a fertiliser for acid loving plants. Prune only to remove dead or crossing wood, straight after flowering. Keep lawn and cultivation away from the root zone, because the surface roots resent disturbance.

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Uses in my Garden

  • Avenue Planting

Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ – Sunsation Magnolia works in an:

  • Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.

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