Parks, Recreation & Leisure

Parks, Recreation & Leisure / Parks & Forestry

Tree Talk

Landscaping Tips | Plant of the Month | Tree Talk

Magnolias
March is Magnolia month in Upper Arlington. The magnificent Saucer Magnolias (Magnolia X soulangiana) lining Cambridge Boulevard spring into bloom, closely following the more common white flowered Star Magnolias (Magnolia stellata) which are used in Arlington landscape plantings. Galaxy Magnolias grow in front of the Tremont Shopping Center. There are many cultivars of Saucer Magnolia; the ones in front of the Devon Pool are a rich red purple in color.

If you mention the word Magnolia in the deep South, people think immediately of the evergreen Southern Magnolia or Magnolia grandiflora, with its glossy green leaves and pure white fragrant flowers. It blooms later in the season than the deciduous magnolias more common in Arlington. Magnolia grandiflora is found throughout Arlington but the tree must be sited carefully to thrive in our climate, zone 5/6. It does best when planted on the east or north side of a building, out of the prevailing west winds. The tree must have summer sun and winter shade to prevent the "frying out" or dessication of the foliage in wintertime. Lots of direct winter sun when the plant cannot replenish its water supply will kill this tree. In the right spot, the tree is stunning. One or two of the creamy white blossoms will perfume an entire yard with a lemony scent in early June.

The Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is somewhat similar to the Southern Magnolia with its semi evergreen foliage and its early June sweet scented white blossoms. It is more subtle than the other Magnolias, the display is less dramatic. This plant is wonderful near a walkway where its beautiful blossoms and delightful scent can be best appreciated. It also has the nickname of Swamp Magnolia which means that this is the perfect one to put in that wet spot in your yard.

The Magnolias we all wait for in Arlington however are the deciduous early spring ones, most commonly the Saucers. Most of these Magnolias are hybrids of Asian origin with the first crosses coming from the 18th century in France. They are bred for their precocious flowers, namely the trait of blooming before the foliage appears to hide the floral display. This means that one is always tap dancing around late spring frosts which spoil the flowers. When a Saucer is in full bloom, the pink/white/purple display is simply spectacular. A frost gives brown mush. One of three years spectacular bloom in UA is par for the course. If one has a low tolerance for these odds, there are cultivars which bloom slightly later with slightly less drama but they give a reliable display almost every year. The very best of these has to be Magnolia X Jane. This plant has hundreds of pink/purple/white scented blossoms produced over a three week period in early spring, ending when the plant has produced a good number of leaves for the season. It will then spit individual flowers throughout the rest of the summer although they are not as visible with the large green leaves in place. Even if the very first buds on this plant are lost to frost, the mid and late buds are not damaged and I have never lost an entire bloom season on 'Jane' due to frost. Jane is readilly available locally and I have to say it is the best overall performer of any Magnolia I grow. 'Betty', 'Randy', 'Ricki', 'Ann' and 'Susan' are from the same series of hybrids and they also perform well in Central Ohio.

The Magnolia Grove in the Lane Road Park is fortunate to have a nice specimen of the precocious yellow flowering Magnolia 'Elizabeth'. Direct sunlight hitting the pale yellow tepals of this plant is a thing of beauty. (Magnolia flowers do not have petals- they have tepals). I also must mention the Southern Ohio native Magnolia macrophylla, or the Big Leaf Magnolia. This plant puts out three foot long leaves and looks like a banana tree. One grows near our side porch and it is easily the most exotic looking plant in our entire yard. The ones growing near Lake Katherine in Jackson County are sixty feet high but I don't think ours will get that big. It would rather be growing in the gorge at Lake Katherine.

Parks & Forestry Division
Parks & Recreation Department
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5340