Claudia Wannamaker Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora 'Claudia Wannamaker'
Height: 60 feet
Spread: 35 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5b
Other Names: Bull Bay
Description:
Makes a great accent for smaller landscapes, smothered in huge, showy, fragrant white cup-shaped flowers in spring through summer; large, glossy leaves with brown undersides; has a neat upright habit of growth
Ornamental Features
Claudia Wannamaker Southern Magnolia is smothered in stunning fragrant white cup-shaped flowers held atop the branches from mid spring to early summer. It has attractive dark green foliage with brown undersides. The large glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn coppery-bronze in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. The fruits are showy red pods displayed from early to late fall.
Landscape Attributes
Claudia Wannamaker Southern Magnolia is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds and squirrels to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Claudia Wannamaker Southern Magnolia is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Shade
Planting & Growing
Claudia Wannamaker Southern Magnolia will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, 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 selection of a native North American species.
