Magnolia blossoms

Magnolia blossoms are large, often fragrant flowers in white, cream, pink, purple, or yellow. Their petals spiral around a central cone, and the flowers can be star-shaped, saucer-shaped, cup-shaped, or shaped like a lily. Star, saucer, and lily magnolias bloom in late winter or early spring, often before the leaves. Southern magnolia and sweetbay bloom in late spring and summer. Most spring types flower for about two weeks. Cut them as buds open in the cool of the morning for the longest vase life.

Which magnolia should you plant for flowers? Think about bloom time. NC State Extension notes that star magnolia flowers open so early that “they are subject to frost damage,” so plant early types where late frost is rare or the site is sheltered. For summer flowers, NC State Extension says southern magnolia’s blossoms “bloom in late spring, with sparse continued flowering throughout the summer.” For more on choosing, see types of magnolia trees, magnolia varieties, and how big magnolia trees get.

Magnolia blossoms are large, showy flowers that open from late winter to summer, depending on the type. The trees and large shrubs that carry them grow well in home yards, and the flowers make striking cut flowers on their own or in an arrangement.

Magnolia blossom basics

Most deciduous magnolias bloom in late winter or early spring, often before their leaves appear. Southern magnolia and sweetbay bloom later, from late spring into summer. Whether you grow a lily magnolia with long pink petals or a southern magnolia with big white cups, many types carry a sweet, lemony scent, though strength varies. The flowers look great from bud to full bloom to vase.

Each type of magnolia has its own blossom style. In general, magnolia blossoms are bowl-shaped, star-shaped, or a mixture of the two (saucer-shaped). They differ in petal size, shape, and color. Some flowers are only about 3 inches wide, while bigleaf magnolia blooms can reach more than a foot across. In terms of color, magnolia blossoms come in white, cream, yellow/green, purple, and pink.

“In Magnolia, Michelia, and Liriodendron (the Magnoliaceae), the flowers are large and often showy, with numerous spirally arranged petals, stamens, and ovules.”

The Botanical Garden Volume 1: Trees and Shrubs, by Roger Phillips & Martyn Rix

So what do various magnolia blossoms look like? The lily magnolia has long pink to purple petals shaped like a lily that open and arch as the flower matures. The star magnolia has narrow white petals that open wide in a star shape. The southern magnolia has huge, creamy white, cup-shaped flowers.

Different types of magnolia blossoms

Here are some common types of magnolias with a short description of blossom appearance:

• Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora): Creamy white 8″ to 12″ bowl-shaped blossoms in late spring and summer (Zones 7-9, Native to U.S.A.)
• Lily Magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora): Pink/purple 4″-long lily-shaped blossoms (Zones 5-8, Native to China)
• Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata): White 5″-wide cup-shaped blossoms (Zones 6-9, Native to China)
• Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana): Soft pink 6″-wide saucer-shaped blossoms (Zones 4-9, Hybrid of Lily Magnolia and Yulan Magnolia)
• Wilson’s Magnolia (Magnolia wilsonii): White 3″ to 4″ nodding, cup-shaped blossoms with crimson stamens at the center (Zones 6-9, Native to China)
• Bigleaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla): Cream 8″ to 14″ cup-shaped blossoms with purple at the base (Zones 5-8, Native to U.S.A.)
• Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana): White 3″-wide cup-shaped blossoms (Zones 5-10, Native to U.S.A.)
• Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata): White 3″ to 4″ star-shaped blossoms (Zones 4-8, Native to Japan)
• Little Girl Hybrid Magnolias (Magnolia ‘Ann’, ‘Betty’, ‘Judy’, ‘Randy’, ‘Ricki’, ‘Susan’, ‘Jane’, ‘Pinkie’): Pink/purple 4″-long lily-shaped blossoms (Zones 4-8, Hybrids of Lily Magnolia and Star Magnolia)
• Elizabeth Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’): Yellow tulip-shaped blossoms (Zones 5-8, hybrid cross of M. acuminata and M. denudata)

Tips for growing magnolia blossoms

The first step to great magnolia blossoms is choosing a type of magnolia that is well-suited to your climate. Use the zones in the list above to narrow your choice (here’s an article about how to find your growing zone). A type suited to your zone will help the flowers come back every year since the buds form the year before and must survive winter. Early bloomers like star and saucer magnolia also do best in a spot sheltered from late frost.

To grow great magnolia blossoms, focus on providing the following conditions for your magnolia tree:

• Full sun (6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day)
• Air circulation around each branch
• Minimal soil disruption above/around its shallow roots
• Consistent soil moisture (use a quality organic mulch)
• Mindful pruning only when needed, right after flowering

Simply Trees sells magnolia trees.

Creating floral designs with fresh magnolia flowers

When it’s time to make arrangements with your magnolia blossoms, a few simple tools and steps help. Here are ideas for a simple bouquet and for a custom arrangement.

Simple magnolia blossom floral bouquet

For simple home arrangements, all you need is a pair of sharp pruning shears, water, and a vase. Cut the flowers in the morning or evenings when the weather is cool. Buds just starting to open last longer than open flowers. Remove most or all leaves so the water goes to the flowers.

Place the magnolia blossoms in a vase with clean, cold water. Keep the vase out of direct sun and away from heat for the longest vase life. Some gardeners also singe the cut end or dip it in boiling water for a few seconds, an old florist trick for woody stems.

Custom floral arrangements with magnolia blossoms

A custom arrangement with magnolia blooms is easy to build. Start with greenery, add supporting flowers, and finish with the magnolias as the stars. Trailing flowers or vines add a final touch. Follow these steps:

1. Greenery: Foliage stems form the base and shape of the arrangement. Start with the longest branches and leave room, since you can add more later. A floral frog or grid holds them in place.
2. Supporting blooms: Smaller flowers fill the gaps and frame the main flowers. Pick colors that suit your magnolia.
3. Statement flowers: The magnolia blossoms. They should be the largest flowers in the arrangement and sit where they are easy to see.
4. Accents: A few blooms in a contrasting color, or trailing flowers or foliage spilling over the rim, add fun and flair.

The parts of a magnolia blossom

As discussed above, the shape and size of the flower petals depend on the type of magnolia. Some have long, narrow petals, and others have broad, rounded ones. The petals (botanists call them tepals) spiral around a central cone of pistils and stamens. Southern magnolia most often has 6 to 12, while star magnolia can have 12 to 18.

How long do magnolia blooms last?

Most deciduous magnolias bloom for about two weeks each spring, with a few early and late flowers on either side. The first week looks the tidiest. In the second week, more buds open while the first flowers drop and carpet the ground. A late frost can brown the flowers overnight. Southern magnolia is different: it blooms in late spring and keeps producing a few flowers through summer.

Cut magnolia flowers most often last a few days to a week. That said, a flower that is cut in the heat of the midday sun and then placed in a vase in the sunshine may last only a day or two. A flower cut in the cool of the morning and kept in a cool, shaded spot lasts much longer.

Magnolia blossoms FAQ