Magnolia Denudata

Loving the scent of magnolias, it was a no brainer to plant one in the garden, but which one. There are so many cultivars to choose from that it makes for quit a lengthy decision process. Blossom colors go from the traditional white to yellow, then pink to shades of purple. How does one choose from such a broad selection? Size may be a determining factor, since these plants can grow as small as a bush to very large trees. Ultimately my decision was made by visiting the Arboretum to see what was successfully growing in San Francisco, and at the nursery to find what was locally available. I selected Magnolia Denudata, the Yulan magnolia for its medium sized blossoms and smaller leaves. Grandifloras have very heavy leaves that did not appeal to me and the trees themselves grow much larger than my garden could handle. I knew I wanted it as a patio tree, so the Yulan is an appropriate size, at least for the first 10 years. I cut back the header to hopefully keep it small. We shall see.