Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'

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Remarkably beautiful in bloom, the 'Leonard Messel' Magnolia is cross between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata 'Rosea' that produces LOADS of purple buds that open to fragrant, 15-petaled, two-toned flowers with purplish-pink outsides and white on the inside. The transition of color from bud to bloom is a beautiful study in color. This hybrid starts blooming at a very early age so no waiting years for flowers. Blooming 2 to 4 weeks later than other deciduous magnolias, the flowers of Leonard Messel are less susceptible to damage from late frosts. The large, elongated leaves are dark green with a somewhat leathery appearance that contrasts nicely with other landscape plants which have a finer foliage.

Leonard Messel Magnolia is a winner of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Leonard Messel Magnolia is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained acidic soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. He 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.

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