shrub

Royal Star Magnolia

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

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Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star') at Marcum's Nursery

Royal Star Magnolia flowers

Royal Star Magnolia flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star') at Marcum's Nursery

Royal Star Magnolia in bloom

Royal Star Magnolia in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 feet

Spread:  12 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4

Description:

An ideal accent tree for smaller home landscapes, features extremely fragrant star-shaped snow-white flowers in early spring, compact, upright growing and multi-stemmed, fast growing; considered the hardiest magnolia of all

Ornamental Features

Royal Star Magnolia is smothered in stunning fragrant white star-shaped flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. The fruits are showy pink pods displayed in early fall.

Landscape Attributes

Royal Star Magnolia is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Royal Star Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Royal Star Magnolia will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit 
Ornamental Features