Washington: Magnolia wilsonii - shade tolerant, but how much shade tolerant?

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by jhk76, Jul 14, 2010.

  1. jhk76

    jhk76 Member

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    I have a small Magnolia wilsonii in the temporary ground. I would like to move it to a permanent site this fall.

    According to the Great Plant Picks, it is shade-tolerant. I have a site where it doesn't receive any direct sun light at all, but rather open dappled sun. In other words, it is a woodland area where western hemlocks, red cedars, etc. However, it is not dark in the middle of the woodland. It is in the edge of the woodland.

    Would it work for M. wilsonii? I mean, would it produce nice flower, etc in a site like this?

    Also, according to GPP, it matures to 25 to 30 feet tall. But I remember reading somewhere in this forum that it could grow to 45 feet? As long as it doesn't grow to that height in my life time, I am all right. But I just want to be aware.

    Any help will be appreciated.

    Thanks.
     
  2. rhodogal

    rhodogal Active Member

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    I have a wilsonii which I just moved this spring to a sunnier location as it wasn't thriving where it was. I had only a few blooms the past few years. We have only been at this garden for 5 years, so now sure of the age, but it's close to 15' tall. It was located between a bunch of mature rhodos, a ginko, a flowering cherry and to the west a bank of mature cedars which blocked all afternoon sun. It's been in it's new location since Feb this year, so far some new growth.
     
  3. jhk76

    jhk76 Member

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    Rhodogal,

    Thanks for the info. It should have been quite a task to move 15-ft tall wilsonii. Several years ago, I tried to move about 10-ft tall Japanese Maple (Burgundy Lace), which had been in the ground for more than 10 years. I couldn't do it because its root was so deep.

    I need to reconsider my site planning for M. wilsonii. Based on what I read, this can be a spectacular flowering plant in Late May/Early June IF I can find a right place for it. My problem is that all sunny (and partial sunny) sides of my yard has been taken.

    Thanks.
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Choose a spot with good, moist soil and room for it to grow without crowding. As long as it gets at least part sun it will be fine, as far as the exposure is concerned. Bloom is never spectacular, main requirement placement where you can look up into faces of individual flowers. Ideal tree for planting on top of wall, with path or sitting area below.

    At the Seattle arboretum you can see a fairly big example of this species just west of Arboretum Drive, north of the main Magnolias area. There also used to be a rather-well-along-one in a sunny not very far east of I-5, along with a bay willow but the magnolia is gone now - and perhaps the willow as well.
     
  5. jhk76

    jhk76 Member

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    Ron B,

    I will check out the plant at the Arboretum to see what a mature M. wilsonii looks like and its site location. I didn't know they had one out there.

    Thanks for the heads-up.
     

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