The star shape of its white flowers gives it both its common name and scientific name.
It thrives in sunny, mild conditions in loamy, moist soil, flowering in late winter/early spring.
Soil
Star magnolia likes to grow in loamy, well-draining moist soil.
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The plant can grow in both neutral and acidic soils.
Water
Star magnolias are low-maintenance plants that don’t require frequent watering.
They can handle some flooding and are tolerant of moderate drought situations.
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Its humidity needs are moderate, at about 30 to 50 percent.
Fertilizer
Star magnolia needs very light to no fertilizer.
Apply a general, all-purpose fertilizer in early spring before any growth appears.
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Get a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to promote stronger root growth and potential bloom production.
For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
People don’t generallyprune magnoliasmuch (althoughM.
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stellatais sometimes a bit more tolerant of pruning than other members of its genus).
They have a tendency to grow as multi-stemmed shrubs or bushes.
Prune away the lower growth as it emerges while letting the rounded, spreading crown become dense.
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If using a rooting hormone, roots will grow in a few weeks.
Star magnolia can also be grown from seed.
Using stem cuttings from annual pruning benefits star magnolia when branching gets crowded.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It spreads by spores between infected plants.
Also, remove infected leaves early on.
Prune branches or thin them out to discourage an overly moist environment and promote air circulation.
If symptoms persist, treat with fungicides according to the product label instructions.
Magnolia scale insects are one of the biggest threats to star magnolias.
The insects suck the sap from the leaves and can harm the tree.
The insects leave behind a residue that leaves a black, sooty mess, which encourages mold growth conditions.
Progress to other chemical alternatives if organic methods are unsuccessful.
What Do Star Magnolia Blooms Look and Smell Like?
Depending on the cultivar, some star magnolias have up to 30 petals.
Many types are sweetly fragrant, while some have no scent at all.
Full sun is also a general prerequisite for bloom creation.
Deadheading Star Magnolia Flowers
Star magnolia will shed their flowers naturally with no deadheading assistance necessary.
Common Problems With Star Magnolias
Star magnolias are easy to plant, and their care is straightforward.
Remove diseasedbrown leavesthat have dropped, preventing thefungusfrom spreading.
Dying Branches
Verticillium wilt is a fungus that can kill branches or an entire star magnolia.
Symptoms include streaking and fading wood, leaves dropping prematurely, and weakening limbs.
Removal is the best course of action.
Star magnolias are messy but not as bad as saucer magnolias.
Star magnolias are attractive when in bloom in spring asspecimen trees.
As relatively small trees, they are also used as foundation plantings or near patios.
Michigan State University Extension.
