Magnolia Susan

Perhaps the best of the Little Girl magnolia series, Magnolia Susan is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a bushy, upright habit, perfect for small gardens. Deep wine-coloured buds open into fragrant, deep crimson-purple, initially narrow, tulip-shaped flowers, with six slightly twisted tepals, paler inside. They are borne on the bare branches before the leaves appear, later than many magnolias, so are at less risk of being ruined by frost. The leaves are ovate and mid-green, turning golden-yellow in autumn. Magnolia Susan starts flowering early in life, needs little pruning, and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Mulch with leaf-mould or compost in spring to keep the soil moist.