A small tree that will give you a bang for your buck, Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ will stand out like a queen in your garden -  whether this be a patio or balcony - before most other plants have even got going. From early March to May large open flowers in a deep burgundy purple will decorate the bare branches of this elegant tree, giving you that maximum hit. What’s more, these flowers have a delicious fragrance, both to our noses, and to hungry pollinators just coming out of hibernation. To create a truly splendid Spring display, you can underplant your tree or set up some companion pots with spring flowering bulbs. 

But it’s not only its flowers that make Magnolia ‘Black Tulip a spectacle, from early winter, as your tree sheds its leaves, buds enclosed in a soft furry casing will sit, waiting, for the temperature to change. Enjoy watching as they shed their wintercoats to reveal the velvety petaled flowers beneath. And after flowering, as the leaves emerge, unusual seed heads remain, adding ornamental value and giving this tree year-round interest. 

We recommend giving your magnolia a good topdress with a thick layer of compost in Spring, particularly if you’re not feeding it throughout the growing season. These are hungry trees and will thank you for the extra food by rewarding you with a floral display to knock your socks off. 

Really light on maintenance, you can give your tree the once-over in mid-summer, pruning out any dead, diseased, dying or crossing stems that might rub and cause a wound, making the tree vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections. Your aim when pruning is to keep an open goblet shape that lets in plenty of light and air. 

Did you know?

Magnolias are one of the oldest genera of trees in the world, with fossilised species dating back millions of years having been found.