Magnolia 'Strawberry Fields'

Deciduous, upright columnar tree with large vibrant wine-red flowers during late winter and early spring. Flowers open from large, furry grey flower-buds to loose goblets of 10-15 cm across and finally to star shapes up to 25 cm wide with the innermost petals remaining closed. Hybrid developed in New Zealand, possibly originating from a cross between Magnolia 'Spectrum' and Magnolia 'Vulcan'.

Prefers a sheltered, sunny or partially shaded position in well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Like many other shallow-rooted plants, deciduous magnolias like a cool root run and growth tends to be better once the surrounding plants or the trees themselves cast a shadow over the rooting zones. Mulch at the time of planting will also help with this. For soils with poor drainage, consider planting Magnolia 'Strawberry Fields' in a raised bed or on a slope.

Magnificent specimen tree for flower display over a long period from late winter.