Magnolia x brooklynensis Elizabeth

One of the first yellow hybrid magnolias to be bred in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Magnolia x brooklynensis Elizabeth is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with an elegant, pyramidal habit. The elliptical, deep green leaves, 8”/20cm long, emerge bronze, providing a lovely foil to the cup-shaped, soft primrose flowers, which are paler inside, and later fade to cream. The flowers, 6”/15cm or more across, start to appear on the bare branches in April, and the leaves emerge around them in the most attractive way; the flowers last well into May. It’s a good, very cold-hardy magnolia which has stood the test of time. If any pruning is needed, it should be done in midsummer. Magnolia Elizabeth holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Well drained, humus-rich, acid to neutral soil
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: Spring in particular
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: up to 33’ (10m) Spread: 20’ (6m)