Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’ – Multi Stems

During the summer this lovely magnolia bears a succession of giant, goblet-shaped flowers with a highly fragrant lemon scent and thick petals that are white on opening, fading to cream. These are then followed by big fleshy, green almost pine-cone shaped seed heads containing seeds that will turn bright red on maturity.  

 Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’ can be grown as a tree that can regularly achieve 12m in the UK, though it could get up to 40m in its native lands, with a canopy that is pyramidal or broadly dome shaped, but it can equally be grown as a large, roughly conical shrub. Magnolia grandiflora can be clipped to create large statement topiary, though generally it needs no more than the removal of the odd branch to maintain a balanced shape. If pruning, do it immediately after flowering, and be aware that a severe reshape may be at the cost of the flowers for a year or two. 

 Plant it in full sun to light shade in any moist-but-well-drained soil whether it is free standing or against a wall. It is frost hardy but can shed a lot of leaves after a prolonged cold spell and is best suited to a position away from the cold and northerly winds. It is a good choice for planting in towns and cities as it is tolerant of urban pollution. It looks fantastic whether shaped as a cone or a standard, whether planted as a stand alone specimen, as an avenue, or in groups.

 This magnificent tree was named for Roland-Michel Barrin, the Baron de la Galissonnière, who was a botanist and French Naval Officer. He discovered it growing in the wild swamp forests, coastal and low-lying areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, took it back to France where it was introduced to Versailles in 1739, reaching the UK a few decades later. One of its common names is ‘Loblolly’ which was a thick gruel or porridge eaten in the Deep South. This refers to the banks of the rivers, swamps, and flood plains next to which these magnolias would grow on the higher ground.