“Gail’s Favorite Magnolia” is a popular evergreen cultivar, favored for its distinctive characteristics as a shrub or small tree. Understanding its unique attributes and specific care is key to successful cultivation. This guide covers planting, ongoing maintenance, and addressing potential issues.
Distinctive Features of Gail’s Favorite Magnolia
This magnolia cultivar, Magnolia laevifolia ‘Gail’s Favourite’, is known for its abundant, fragrant white blooms. The saucer- to cup-shaped flowers, with a central boss of yellow stamens, emerge from velvety, reddish-brown buds. Blossoms appear in mid to late spring (April through May).
Its foliage consists of leathery, ovate to elliptic, semi-glossy dark green leaves, which are evergreen and have reddish-brown down on their undersides. This plant forms a dense, rounded, bushy shrub or small tree, reaching an ultimate height of 2 to 2.5 meters (6 to 8 feet) and a spread of 1 to 2.5 meters (3 to 8 feet). It typically reaches about 2 meters within ten years. Borderline hardy, it tolerates temperatures down to -10°C to -15°C (5°F to 14°F), but may need protection from cold, drying winds in exposed areas.
Planting Your Gail’s Favorite Magnolia
Choose a planting site that receives full sun to partial shade, ideally with a warm aspect. Shelter from cold, drying winds is beneficial, making south or west-facing positions suitable.
Soil conditions are also important. This magnolia prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil with a neutral to acidic pH. It adapts to various soil types (clay, loam, sandy) if they drain well. When planting in fall or spring, dig a hole as deep as the nursery pot and twice as wide. Incorporate ericaceous compost to enhance growth, and mulch thoroughly after planting to retain moisture and regulate temperature.
Caring for Gail’s Favorite Magnolia
Consistent watering is important for ‘Gail’s Favorite Magnolia’, especially during dry periods and for newly established plants. This magnolia is not drought tolerant and requires deep, thorough watering. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Apply a slow-release ericaceous fertilizer each spring to support the plant’s growth. Pruning should be minimal, performed only when necessary during summer (June to September). Lightly remove any weak or crossing branches to maintain its shape and health, but avoid severe pruning as it can cause stress and encourage undesirable watershoots.
Addressing Common Challenges
‘Gail’s Favorite Magnolia’ can encounter pests like sap-sucking aphids, scales (e.g., magnolia scale), mealybugs, and thrips. These can cause honeydew excretion, promoting black sooty mold on leaves. Foliage-feeding caterpillars (e.g., leafrollers, webworms) may also cause damage. Managing these pests often involves horticultural oil applications.
The plant is susceptible to several diseases like leaf spot (bacterial or fungal), leaf blight, cankers, and powdery mildew. Verticillium wilt, a serious fungal infection, affects water-conducting tissues, causing wilting and discoloration. Good air circulation and drainage help mitigate fungal issues, and infected leaves or branches should be promptly removed. While there’s no direct cure for Verticillium wilt, maintaining plant health through proper watering and fertilization can help it tolerate the disease. Environmental stressors (e.g., nutrient deficiencies, improper watering) can also cause yellowing leaves or lack of blooms.