I have three magnolia trees, two of which are blooming again. Is this common? I don't know what type they are. One has all white blooms and the other pink and white. These pictures are from April 1st, 2007. They bloomed wonderfully at the end of March, early April this year (2007) and are now just starting to bloom again (July 20th started). They didn't bloom twice last year. This is only our second year in this home so we don't have a long history with this property. Are we doing something right...or is it just dumb luck?
It is normal for some of the healthy magnolias to flower twice. The one on the right is a star magnolia, of some type. We have large well-established ones at Riverview.
Thank you Niftyniall for your insight. I will read up on the star magnolia now. I haven't seen a website that talks about a magnolia blooming twice-only on a forum-so I was curious, which is why I asked this well-informed group. I now have to learn what makes a magnolia happy and healthy - what we are doing right versus what would not-be-so-right. Also, I reviewed your Riverview Horticultural Centre Society website that is a link on your Avatar. Even though I am a Vancouver native I had no idea that it existed, let alone it had such a collection of trees. Fascinating.
Could the pink flowering magnolia be: Botanical Name: Magnolia x Soulangiana Common Names: Saucer Magnolia Tree - Japanese Magnolia ?
I too have a pink Magnolia and can't remember it's name. Mine also boomed twice in the year in 2006 and 2007. The second blooming (around July) wasn't as healthy as the first blooming (around March/ April). Should this tree be pruned, if so, when? Deirdre.
Unless you know for sure which Magnolia you have it is prudent not to prune it. Even similar individuals among stellata, loebneri, and lilliflora, the principal forms that can rebloom in a growing season, react differently to pruning. The one constant is that none of them prosper soon after a pruning. In most of these Magnolias a severe pruning can lead to a tree that really does not ever snap back with rejuvenate new growth. A light trim can be done right after they bloom in warm areas that get plenty of sunlight at the expense of a couple years of sparse blooms from the wood that has been pruned but in areas that are cooler that get plenty of overcast skies then even a light trim can lead to trouble. What happens is that when we prune a branch the plant does not send out immediate new growth from under the cut but instead wants to send out new growth from the base of the tree or the base of the branch that was cut. It is rather common in many of the deciduous Magnolias to see entire branches that have been top pruned die out which is the best reason not to prune or trim them if we can help it. A healthy tree seldom needs to be pruned per say (crossing branches that are causing wood injury can be pruned out any time if need be and it is better to take out the whole invasive branch). Summer blooms, although not heavy blooming can be seen in the lilliflora, loebneri, stellata and on occasion on kobus and M. x kewensis and their forms and hybrid forms of them. I see a few Summer blooms almost every year on those forms where I am. I even see some Winter (November/December) blooms on salcifolia but none of the Summer or the Winter blooms are as full and lush flowered as the Spring blooms are. Jim
Late bloom is at the expense of spring bloom....all the buds are set at the same time (mid/late summer). Around here, late season blooming is often a result of high soil fertility.
I believe summer bloom I see here is often on new shoots of current season and precedes setting of final crop of overwintering flower buds.
Our magnolia is flowering again in late July, it seems to do this every year. I have spoken with several people and one of the main reasons is we have a sprinkler system and all our gardens get regularly watered. The magnolia looks as healthy as the spring growth.
Glad to have found this conversation. I’m in southern Ontario and my saucer magnolia is blooming again. I've never seen this happen here in Ontario, so wanted to check to see if this is common and to see that it doesn’t mean too much damage over winter. Glad to see that it does occur and now I can just enjoy it. This is only our second year with these two magnolias, and they’re thriving. Love them!!
I just returned from a week away to find my magnolia in full bloom! It has only given me one or two blossoms the past 2 springs! My theory is that it must be the heatwave and torrential rains we have had this summer! I have only fertilized&watered once this June and have left it on it's own as my property is too large to care for as I wish I could! It is also in full sun...however, I have another one which appears to be the same type, which is planted on the east side of my house with only morning sun and it is not blooming! Huh! Would anyone be able to identify what the name of this magnolia might be? Thank You!
