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Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’
star magnolia
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Image © John Glover Photography Ltd.
Image © Daniel Mosquin/UBC Botanical Garden
Image © Lynne Thompson/Great Plant Picks |
Printer-friendly Fact Sheet
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| Outstanding Qualities |
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During the early days of spring, star magnolias are among the first ornamentals to burst into bloom. The bare branches of ‘Waterlily’ are crowded with white starbursts that open from pink buds. Each flower has double the number of supple, strap-shaped petals (more correctly called tepals) than does the wild type. Flowers perfume the air with a delicate, but substantial, fragrance. ‘Waterlily’ blooms one to two weeks later than typical star magnolias, giving it the advantage of missing some of the late frosts. It grows into a large, rounded shrub or can be trained into a small tree with careful pruning. Star magnolias get golden fall color and have an attractive, somewhat twiggy branching structure of soft, grey branches. Suitable companions include winter heaths and spring-blooming bulbs. Be careful when gardening under magnolias as their roots are fleshy and easily damaged. Three different clones of star magnolia are grown under this name, but the most widely available originated from Norfolk, Virginia. |
| Culture |
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Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’ is generally easy to grow. It flowers best when planted in full sun but also grows well in half day sun or bright open shade. Good soil is important for this plant. Give it well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil and regular summer watering. A mulch of well-rotted compost or bark can be applied to conserve soil moisture. Garden gently under magnolias, for they have fleshy roots that can easily be damaged. The best approach for companions plants is to tuck in natural spreaders and let them flourish untouched. Little pruning is required other than removing dead and broken limbs or rubbing and crossing branches. Pruning is best done after flowering. Too much pruning can cause suckers that spoil the natural beauty of this plant. |
| Growing Habit |
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Star magnolias are excellent deciduous small trees to large shrubs. Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’ is vigorous in youth, but its rate of growth slows after five to seven years. It gradually develops an overall shape that is rounded to slightly pyramidal, with a dense branching structure of twiggy branches. This winter outline is attractive and can easily be spoiled by pruning, so the best approach is to give star magnolias plenty of width and to leave them alone. A ten-year-old plant reaches 8 to 12 feet tall and 7 to 10 feet wide. Mature specimens can reach up to 20 feet tall with time, spreading to 15 to 18 feet. |
| Hardiness |
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USDA zones 5 to 9 |
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© 2009 Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden