2 named cultivars

tree

Loebner Magnolia

The Story

Plant Bio

Magnolia x loebneri is a rounded deciduous tree raised from two Japanese species, reaching twenty to thirty feet in both directions. Narrow dark green leaves up to six inches long follow the flowers, and star-shaped blooms three to six inches across, with twelve to twenty strap-shaped white or pink tepals, open on bare branches in early spring.

It combines the profuse early flowering of star magnolia with the hardiness and eventual size of kobus, and it flowers young where kobus alone can take a decade. Like all early magnolias the open blooms are frost-vulnerable, so avoid an east-facing position where morning sun thaws frosted buds too quickly.

Uses & Benefits:

Masses of star-shaped white or pink flowers on bare branches, very early and from a young age.

Hardier and larger than star magnolia but flowers far sooner than kobus, combining the best of both.

Provides early nectar, and the dense crown is used as cover by birds and small wildlife.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

300 inches

Width

330 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Garden hybrid of Japanese species

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Allow twenty-five feet or more in both directions.
Plant in full sun to partial shade, sheltered from wind.
Avoid an east-facing spot where sun strikes early.
Give it moist, humus-rich, slightly acid soil.
Mulch over the shallow roots, clear of the trunk.
Prune only dead wood, straight after flowering.

Pro Tip

It flowers young, unlike its kobus parent, so a small plant will bloom within a few years rather than a decade.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Shelter it from early morning sun 🌤️
Allow twenty-five feet of spread 📏
Mulch over the shallow roots 🍂
Prune only after flowering ✂️

Don't

Plant it against an east wall ❌
Cultivate over the root zone ❌
Prune it in autumn or winter ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mulch
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Specimen tree in a medium to large gardenSpring blossom feature on a lawnWoodland edge planting

Companion Plants

Hellebore Daffodil Epimedium HostaAutumn Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Loebner Magnolia questions

What zones can Loebner Magnolia grow in?

Loebner Magnolia is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Loebner Magnolia deer resistant?

Yes — Loebner Magnolia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Loebner Magnolia bloom?

Loebner Magnolia typically blooms in early spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Loebner Magnolia need full sun?

Loebner Magnolia does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.