Magnolia x loebneri 'Snowdrift' (Snowdrift Magnolia )
Botanical Information
| Family | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus | Magnolia |
| Species | x loebneri |
| Cultivar | 'Snowdrift' |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (deciduous), Shrub (deciduous) |
| Origin | Horticultural origin. A hybrid of M. kobus and M. stellata. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 3 - 7 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 4 - 8 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Height | 3-6 m |
| Spread | 3-6 m |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A small tree or large shrub, and producing a profusion of white flowers in April. ‘Snowdrift’ has particularly large flowers and slightly larger leaves. |
| ID Characteristic | Flowers form before leaves which can get late frost damage if not grown in a protected area. Staggered blooming period in early spring. |
| Shape | This tree has a pyramidal shape in its younger part of its life and becomes rounded as it ages. |
| Landscape | Popular as a landscape feature when in bloom but otherwise having the character of a small tree and thus suitable for landscapes with limited space. Structural pruning will enhance the form and help to produce a more open specimen. |
| Propagation | By softwood cuttings in spring or early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and autumn. |
| Cultivation | Grow in a fertile well-drained soil. Flowers are damaged by frost and or wind so plant under shelter in full to partial sun. Prune out dead limbs and shape in late summer. |
| Pests | Magnolia root borer (Euzophera magnolialis) may cause problems in nurseries, but rarely in the landscape. Magnolia scale can also be a common issue. |
| Bark/Stem Description | A smooth, light brown bark and has some large lenticels that are vertical instead of horizontal. |
| Leaf Description | The leaves are simple, with a pinnate venation and a rather rounded obovate shape and green turning yellow in autumn. |
| Flower Description | Long white petals around the outside arranged in the shape of as a goblet then unfold into a star-shape. |
| Fruit Description | Reddish-green, knobby aggregate fruit , about 5 cm long. |
Photographs
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Snowdrift’, form, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Snowdrift’, flower, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Snowdrift’, flower bud, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.