GardenDC Podcast Episode 94: Magnolias

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Public Gardens and Landscapes at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, all about magnolias. The plant profile is on Heaths and Heathers and I share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming events.

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Show Notes: 1:01 Meet Vice President of Public Gardens and Landscapes Andrew Bunting from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society! 1:35 Signs of spring Andrew is noticing 2:23 “We’ve been kind of teased into thinking that spring should start in February…” — Andrew 3:06 Andrew talks about the earliest blooming magnolias 3:53 What most people think are petals on magnolias are actually tepals! 4:27 Magnolia stellata can be the size of a shrub or tree 7:03 “If I was going to pick 10 of my favorite magnolias, ‘Wada's Memory’ would be one of them.” — Andrew 7:44 Many magnolias are early bloomers 9:11 “If you could only grow one magnolia, it would have to be the saucer magnolia.” — Andrew 10:22 Kathy describes the saucer magnolias at the Enid A. Haupt Garden in DC 11:39 Andrew lists public gardens where you can see magnolias 15:02 Common names can be confusing 16:17 Andrews mentions magnolias called ‘The Girls’ 17:34 “Pinkie… that’s one of my favorites.” — Kathy 18:29 There is a ‘Star Wars’ Magnolia! 21:31 “For a long period of time, the yellow magnolias were kind of the Holy Grail of the magnolia world.” — Andrew 22:54 Yellow magnolias can be very tall! 24:43 “If you were to collect all the yellow magnolias today, there’s got to be 75 different ones.” — Andrew 26:13 Andrew describes a magnolia tree with a fruity scent 27:58 Magnolia trees native to North America have tropical leaves 30:01 Andrew mentions tall magnolias — “The wild Magnolia grandiflora can get over a hundred feet tall.” 31:38 Magnolias can be found all over the world! 31:12 Kathy and Andrew discuss the “dry shade” caused by evergreen magnolias 36:23 Are deer a problem? 37:56 The real pest issue — magnolia scale 38:39 Kathy and Andrew discuss pruning magnolias and espalier 41:41 Kathy says she’s going to add the ‘Star Wars’ magnolia to her collection 43:43 Learn about Heath and Heathers in this week’s Plant Profile! 46:08 What’s new in the garden: ‘February Gold’ daffodils bloom and the interns planted seeds! 47:00 News in the gardening world: Maryland Home & Garden Show, Longwood Gardens opens restored Orchid House, cherry blossom peak bloom coming soon 49:01 Look forward to “The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City” by Teri Speight and Kathy 49:55 Celebrate spring at the National Garden Bureau online book party

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

GardenDC Episode 60: Hydrangeas with Andrew Bunting

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-60-hydrangeas.html

GardenDC Episode 6: Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-6-spring.html

The episode is posted at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/episodes/Magnolias-e1f5mm3 

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Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Editing and Show Notes: Dorvall Bedford

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Plant Profile: Saucer Magnolias

Magnolia x soulangeana is commonly known as the Saucer Magnolia and is also known by some as the Tulip Magnolia. It is a deciduous hybrid magnolia that is a landscape show-stopper. The stunning cup-shaped blossoms open from late February to April, with some blossoms reappearing throughout the summer months and even into winter.

The saucer magnolia is hardy to Zones 4–9 and does especially well in our Mid-Atlantic region. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet, but it can be trained as either a shrub, a small tree with multiple stems, or a single-trunk tree.

Plant it in full sun for best flowering results. It can take most all soils conditions. It has some drought –and pollution-tolerance. It does need some protection in areas with cold winters for the first couple of years.

The only drawback to this early season tree is that a late frost can sometimes impact the flowers and cause them to brown and drop off prematurely.

It is related to our native Southern Magnolia and was first cultivated in 1826. New introductions include the “Little Girl series” from the U.S. National Arboretum. In my own garden, I have ‘Jane’, which has dark pink exterior and white interior.

My favorite grove of Saucer Magnolias is at the Enid Haupt garden at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. The trees line the main formal garden and put on a show that rivals the famous Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms. It is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch outdoors on an early spring day.

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine and edited by intern Allison O'Reilly.

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