Well, hello there! Let the first person to throw a stone be the one who has never been captivated by magnolia flowers. You simply can't walk past this shrub without noticing it. Subjectively and objectively speaking, it is simply beautiful.

We are not surprised at all when so many of you write to us saying that you are considering buying a magnolia for your garden. However, remember that it is best to buy a magnolia in summer. Why? Because this is when we can best assess the condition of the plant – we can see its new growth and flower buds. This gives us confidence that the plant's root system is in good condition and that we can safely buy it. Also remember that magnolias don't particularly like company – they generally prefer to grow without competition from other plants.

So which variety should you choose? Here are some of the varieties available on the market:

🌸 Magnolia 'Susan' – has bell-shaped flowers that are darker at the base and lighter towards the tips. A suitable variety for small gardens because it forms a compact shrub. It grows up to 4 m tall. It prefers a warm but sheltered position.

🌸 Japanese magnolia 'Kobus' – this is the largest of the popular magnolia varieties available on the market. It can reach a height of up to 10 m and can be as much as 6 m wide! It blooms white. It is an excellent choice for large gardens, parks and spacious areas. It is resistant to low temperatures.

🌸 Magnolia 'Betty' – grows up to 3.5 m tall. It has purple-red flowers with white interiors. It prefers a sheltered position. It blooms before the leaves develop.

🌸 Magnolia 'George Henry Kern' – begins flowering profusely before the leaves develop. Its flowers are lilac with white interiors. It grows slowly and has a compact habit. This also means that it has a long flowering period. It prefers a sheltered position. It is resistant to low temperatures.

🌸 Magnolia 'Heaven Scent' – grows into a small tree, reaching 4–5 m in height. It has pink, fragrant flowers (as the name suggests) with a cup-shaped form. It is a good choice for small gardens.

🌸 Magnolia 'Nigra' – also recommended for small gardens, as it grows to a maximum of 3–4 m. It has ruby-coloured, cup-shaped flowers with white interiors.

🌸 Magnolia 'Leonard Messel' – a moderately frost-resistant, broad and heavily branched variety. It grows to 3–4 m tall. It has pink flowers with white interiors – initially cup-shaped and later widely open.

🌸 Magnolia 'Ricki' – grows to 2–3 m, so it is more of a small tree/shrub. Its flower buds are slender and purple, with lighter-coloured interiors. This variety is moderately frost-resistant. Recommended for small gardens.

🌸 Magnolia 'Sieboldii' – grows slowly and reaches up to 2.5 m in height. It has white flowers with red centres and a distinct fragrance. It blooms in summer. It prefers partially shaded positions. It is frost-resistant, although its leaves may react poorly to light frost. Recommended for small gardens.

🌸 Magnolia 'Alba Superba' – recommended for medium-sized to large gardens, as it can reach up to 5 m in height. It has white, fragrant flowers that are slightly pink at the base. It prefers a sheltered position. Late frosts can damage the flowers.

🌸 Magnolia 'Soulangeana' / 'Alexandrina' – recommended for large gardens, as it can grow up to 8 m tall. It blooms as the leaves are developing. It has purple-pink flowers with white tips. It prefers a sheltered position. Late frosts can damage the flowers. Its leaves turn yellow in autumn.

🌸 Magnolia 'Lennei' – a broad shrub reaching 2–3 m in height. It grows slowly. It has large leaves and large, dark purple flowers with white interiors. It requires a warm spot in the garden. Recommended for medium-sized and large gardens.

🌸 Magnolia 'Amabilis' – grows fairly quickly and becomes both broad and tall, reaching 4–5 m in height. It has white flowers, slightly pinkish on the outside. It prefers a sheltered position and overwinters well. Recommended for medium-sized and large gardens.

🌸 Magnolia 'Rustica Rubra' – grows quickly and has a broad habit. It reaches up to 7 m in height, so it is recommended for large gardens. It has rounded pink-red flowers with lighter interiors. It prefers a sheltered position.

🌸 Magnolia 'Speciosa' – reaches up to 6 m in height. It has large, white, slightly pinkish, fragrant flowers that open widely. It prefers a sheltered position.

🌸 Star magnolia – a slow-growing variety reaching up to 3 m in height. It has white, widely open, fragrant flowers. It is the earliest-flowering of all magnolias. It prefers a warm and sheltered position. Recommended for small gardens.

🌸 Star magnolia 'Rosea' – a slow-growing variety reaching up to 3 m in height. It has pink, fragrant, star-shaped flowers. It blooms as early as late March and early April. It is frost-hardy and is generally recommended for smaller gardens.

🌸 Star magnolia 'Royal Star' – has a broad, rounded habit. It reaches up to 3.5 m in height. It has double, white, star-shaped flowers. Recommended for small gardens. It is generally frost-resistant, although spring frosts can damage the flowers.

🌸 Magnolia 'Yellow River' – the odd one out among magnolias, as it blooms yellow. It has fragrant, thick-petalled flowers. It is best grown in a sheltered position, where it is more frost-resistant. It grows up to 8 m tall and is broad, so it is more suitable for large gardens and parks.

Good luck!