Star Magnolia Provides a Bright Spot in the Early Spring Garden

What’s blooming in the patch this week is the Magnolia Stellata, commonly known as the Star Magnolia, which can be either a small shrub or tree.  Mine is about 8-feet tall and has been growing in my Eatontown garden for five years.

The Star Magnolia is a small, deciduous tree that blooms early in the spring before the leaves appear.  The flowers are approximately 3-4 inches in diameter and are generally a messy, star shape with at least 12 to 30 thin, delicate “tepals.” The color can range from bright white to a rich pink, with a bunch of pale yellow stamens in the middle.

On a dark, rainy day, this tree is truly a spectacular sight, as the white flowers seem to glow.  They remain beautiful for about two weeks, and do not require any clean up as they fall.  The leaves will begin to appear as a bronze green, but will change to a deep, shiny green as they mature and are about 4-inches long.  I have never had to spray the Star Magnolia, as it does not appear to attract insects, so it is a good choice for the organic gardener.

My Star Magnolia is starting to bloom now and will continue to look lovely even as the flowers fade and the new leaves begin to grow (as a couple of the photos show).  It is really a slow-growing, carefree tree, needing little pruning to hold its shape.

I feed it organic fertilizer and provide adequate water, but as an organic gardener, I do not want trees that need to be sprayed to remain beautiful. 

Pat Ellson lives in Eatontown is the owner of Floral Gems located at 196 South Street, Eatontown, (732) 542-0967.