Magnolia 'Betty'

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A member of the "Little Girl" group of hybrids developed at the U.S. National Arboretum, the Betty Magnolia is a slow-growing very hardy large shrub or small tree that smothers itself in beautiful flowers before leaves emerge in spring. Perched at the ends of almost every stem tip, the flowers start out as reddish-purple buds that open to pinkish-purple tulip-shape flowers which finally flop fully open to an 8" diameter star-like pattern. A cross between M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ and M. stellata ‘Rosea’ gives ‘Betty’ her unique flower shape and color.  Like the other Little Girls, Betty flowers about 2 to 4 weeks later than M. stellata and M. x soulangiana, thus reducing the risk of damage to flowers from late spring frosts. You can expect sporadic re-bloom through summer. The large, elongated leaves are dark green with a somewhat leathery appearance that contrasts nicely with other landscape plants which have a finer foliage.

Betty Magnolia is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained acidic soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. She prefers full sun for best flowering, however will handle some partial shade. In the South, some shade during the hottest mid-afternoon certainly own't hurt. Avoid constantly soggy or wet soils. In alkaline soils, apply soil sulfur and/or chelated iron to increase acidity. Pruning usually isn't necessary, however stray or damaged branches can be pruned immediately after flowering in spring. Feed after flowering in spring with a mild organic plant food or a well-balanced shrub and tree food containing iron or sulfur.

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, feed and water Ann Magnolia tree.