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Woody > Magnolia > Magnolia stellata > Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

Magnolia stellata

'Royal Star'


Royal Star Magnolia




            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

"

Royal Star Magnolia is an ideal specimen as it is a medium sized tree with rather delicate white blooms presenting an 'airy' appearance when in flower.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

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Family
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Magnolia
Species
stellata
Cultivar
'Royal Star'
Category
Woody
Type
Shrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
Canadian Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
RHS Hardiness Zone
H6
Temperature (°C)
-30
Temperature (°F)
-20
Height
5-7 m
Spread
3-4 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
AprilMay
General Description
It is a deciduous shrub/tree that grows to become a small-medium sized plant producing light green leaves and a bright white or pink flowers. It produces brown or red aggregate fruits filled with orange-red seeds that can fall before or after they have matured.
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.
Cultivation
Royal Star Magnolia can be grown in various types of soil but performs best in a sand or clay loam, with a pH of 5-7 and is able to adapt to dry soils. It can be planted in direct sunlight or partial shade and will survive if not watered regularly.
Shape
Often grown and pruned in a shrub-like or sphere shape, but naturally grows up and outward as the canopy matures.
Growth
Slow
ID Characteristic
Royal Star has relatively small leaves and stature when compared to most other members of the genus. It has bright white or pink coloured flowers surrounded by 10 - 12 sepals in multiple layers.
Pests
Royal star is susceptible to horse chestnut scale, a sap-sucking insect that embeds eggs in a white material and attaches itself to the tree's bark. Not causing significant damage to the tree, but often considered unsightly.
Habitat
Best grown in a loamy sand or clay, easily adaptable to dry conditions.
Bark/Stem Description
The bark is smooth and can range from brown to grey in colour with pronounced, small, white lenticels.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Royal Star has conical shaped white coloured buds that are quite tomentose and range in size from 1 - 1.5 cm. The larger terminal buds are the flowers typically superintended by the smaller leaf buds.
Leaf Description
The leaves are linear shaped with an entire margin and are a light green in colour, 5-10 cm long.
Flower Description
Royal Star has 12 - 18 narrow tepals in layers arranged in a whorl. Pink buds unfurling to white.
Fruit Description
It produces brown or red aggregate fruits filled with orange-red seeds that can fall before or after they have matured; fruit ranges in size from 7.5 - 12.5 cm.
Colour Description
Chestnut brown to grey bark, light green leaves, with a bright, pinkish-white coloured blooms and an absence of autumn colour.
Texture Description
FIt is a fine to medium textured plant that remains consistent throughout all seasons.
Notable Specimens
Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' can be seen at the University of British Columbia's Botanical Garden; a collection that has been growing since the 1960's. Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Lanhydrock House and Garden, Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
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