Click for previous Image Image 1 of 4 Magnolia x loebneri Magnolia

Magnolia x loebneri 'Ballerina'

Magnolia

Plant Type:

TREES

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Ballerina’ – 'Ballerina' looks very much like a Star Magnolia on steroids! Heavenly fragrant white flowers with the barest touch of pink at the heart occur in huge numbers unfurling days after the M. stellata has begun to bloom. Each flower, larger than those of M. stellata, with as many as 30 strap-shaped petals may remind one of a tutu, hence the ‘Ballerina’. This is the resultant cross between M. kobus and M. stellata. Foliage may turn yellow to yellow-bronze in autumn. Bark is smooth and light silvery gray-brown. Northern gardeners: please wait until spring to purchase and plant.


Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Colors:

White

Characteristics and Attributes for Magnolia x loebneri 'Ballerina'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Early Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Interesting Bark

  • Smooth

Autumn Interest

  • Showy Buds

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant

Light

  • Mostly Sunny
  • Full Sun

Attributes

  • Fragrant
  • Specimen
  • Alee

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Rapid

Soil

  • Moist
  • Fertile
  • Organic

Origins

  • Garden Origin

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Magnolia

Common Name: Magnolia

The Magnolias are one of the earliest known flowering plants to establish themselves on our beautiful planet. Much breeding continues and the cultivar list is expanding with some smaller sizes and new flower colors. Many are typical tree forms while some tend to be multi-stemmed – more like huge shrubs than single-stemmed trees. Most are spring blooming – some early, others later after danger of frost has passed in the north. A few of these will provide some recurrence of bloom during the summer. A handful bloom in summer. Many emit wonderful fragrance. The foliage is often large, bold and paddle-shaped, looking attractive in summer; a handful of species’ leaves are so large that they are reminiscent of banana foliage. Some seasons they develop gold to golden brown autumn color before the leaves drop. It’s hard for me to think of a landscape without one or more included in the mix. All prefer fertile deep loam with plenty of organic matter and moist soils – some are even content in relatively wet conditions. Magnolias should be sited in full to half sun exposures. All our selections are cutting grown, on their own wood – they are not grafted. Some are much easier to produce on their own wood than others; some are quite recalcitrant. In that, we may not always have certain plants available or available in great numbers. Spring planting is recommended for magnolias especially up north. Cutting grown.