Previous owners planted this and I have no idea what it is. I'm putting something else in its spot and am trying to decide whether or not to go through the effort to transplant and save it. Thanks for the help!
I couldn't find any pictures of Magnolia's online that looked like mine but it seems there are many different varieties. This plant was leaf-less when we moved in, in November and starting growing again this spring/summer but has had no blossoms of any kind so far (late July). Thanks for the response.
Looks like it has been cut back. I too think it is a Magnolia. Does it loose leaves in winter? If so it looks similar to my large tree that has white with claret tinted tulip flowers on bare branches in spring then the leaves come in. Liz
Liz - It did lose its leaves in the fall. And it did have some sort of flower buds on bare branches in the spring before the leaves came in. Sounds like you guys identfied it. When can I exect it to bloom? Do you know the name of the variety? How big should I expect it to get? Thanks so much!
The common one with leaves like this is saucer magnolia. But there are many other deciduous hybrid magnolias. Yours is having a bad time. It should not have been whacked back. It should not be dying back or have holes in the leaves. It should be mulched, watered and perhaps also fertilized with suitable formulation - nitrogen is the main nutrient usually deficient on local soils. Since turf grasses like a high N fertilization regime (and need to be watered liberally through the summer in order to remain green) if the lawn were getting such attention the tree would probably enjoy it also. If fertilizing and watering the lawn is out replacement of the moisture- and fertility-loving magnolia with a drought-adapted yet conspicuous small flowering tree like a California buckeye would probably be a good idea. There is a wonderful specimen of this in the Carl English Garden at the government locks in Ballard. There is also a street tree planting of them in front of a house north of there. Colvos Creek Nursery on Vashon Island raises these periodically from seed and sells them in one gallon pots. Don't think they have any right now but may soon in the future. Otherwise you might be able to get it from forestfarm in Williams, OR or Cistus Nursery near Portland. All three do mail order and have web sites.
Unfortunetly I had to move it yesterday (late July) to put something in its spot. If it's already having a rough time then it might be a goner. But now at least I know it's something I want to try to save. I gave it a B1 treatment when I transplanted it. Should I give it any further treatment this summer? I imagine any more fertilizing should be done this next week, before August.
Can't help with name but If it were mine I would let one strong stem develope and get it's small tree status happening again. They flower in spring but yours may take several years after the haircut. Definatly feed and mulch. Mine grows in acid soil same as for rhodos and azaleas. I am fortunate to have good deep volcanic (red) soil that it loves. It is now about 20+ years old is about 15 to 20 feet high and I do have to prune branches every so often because it arches over a board walk. Unfortuntly last year i lost all my blooms to the cockatoo (bird) raiding party while I was out. They just sit all over it and snap the developing flowers off. I am hoping I will be around this next spring when they roll into town. Liz
Let it settle first. Fertilise much later. Don't be suprised if all the leaves fall off now. Just let it get used to the new spot and keep damp, Liz
