Regarded as one of the earliest and finest yellow-flowered Magnolias, Magnolia 'Butterflies' is an upright, pyramidal, deciduous shrub or tree of breathtaking beauty when in full bloom. Masses of tulip-shaped, rich canary yellow flowers, 4-5 in. across (10-13 cm), appear in mid spring before the new leaves unfurl. Held upright, each sunny bloom is adorned with red stamens and counts up to 10-16 tepals. Rich of a lemon fragrance, the flowers bloom profusely, literally smothering the naked branches, for about 7-9 days. After the tepals have fallen, the foliage of oblong-elliptic, dark green leaves, emerges and remains attractive throughout the growing season.

Award-winning Magnolia 'Elizabeth' is a deciduous pyramidal tree with masses of large, cup-shaped, primrose yellow flowers, 8 in. across (20 cm), which appear to glow in early to mid-spring as the new leaves begin to unfurl. Slightly fragrant, the large blooms may last up to 4 weeks. They gradually fade to cream as they age. Emerging bronze, the large, glossy, oval leaves mature dark green before turning golden-yellow in fall. As the leaves fall, the smooth gray bark and furry buds are revealed, adding interest to the winter landscape.

Vigorous and fast-growing, Magnolia 'Hot Flash' is a deciduous tree with masses of upright, rich yellow flowers with very narrow tepals flushed rose-pink at the base. The blooms appear in mid to late spring as the new leaves begin to unfurl. Since this hybrid magnolia flowers late in the season, its pretty blossoms rarely run the risk of damage from late frosts.

Magnolia 'Ivory Chalice' is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with exquisite, upright, chalice-shaped, ivory flowers, 6 in. across (15 cm), in late winter or early spring. Fragrant, the blooms appear on naked branches, before the leaves unfurl. The foliage of obovate, dark green leaves turns to a coppery-bronze color in the fall before shedding to the ground. This Magnolia creates a very dramatic scene in the garden when in full bloom. While very hardy, its blooms, like those of most early blooming Magnolias, are susceptible to late frosts.

Magnolia 'Solar Flair' is a deciduous tree with masses of upright, deep yellow flowers in early spring. Each luminous flower, 5 in. across (13 cm), is tinged rosy-pink at the base. The blooms are borne on leafless branches, since they emerge before the new leaves begin to unfurl. The foliage of elliptic, ovate leaves is medium green. Grows upright with a pyramidal habit. An excellent ornamental tree to plant as a focal point in your landscape.

Offering a rich color blend, Magnolia 'Sunsation' is a deciduous tree with masses of upright, golden yellow flowers with a rosy-purple blushed base in mid to late spring. Each sunny flower is quite large, 7 in. across (17 cm). The blooms are borne on leafless branches, as they emerge before the new leaves begin to unfurl. Since this hybrid magnolia flowers late in the season, its pretty blossoms rarely run the risk of damage from late frosts. The foliage of elliptic, ovate leaves is dark green.

Regarded as one of the best yellow-flowered Magnolias, Magnolia 'Yellow Bird' is an upright, conical to pyramidal, deciduous shrub or tree of breathtaking beauty when in full bloom. Masses of goblet-shaped, lemon-yellow flowers, 3 in. across (7 cm), appear in late spring as the new leaves emerge. Held upright, each sunny bloom counts up to 6 tepals and may last up to 3 weeks. The foliage of elliptic green leaves turns golden-brown in fall. 

A new variety from China, Magnolia denudata 'Yellow River' also known as 'Fei Huang', is a small deciduous tree with exquisite, sweetly fragrant, buttery-yellow flowers. Upright and goblet-shaped when borne, the large flowers, 6 in. long (15 cm), gracefully open their tepals as they mature, resembling lilies. Rich of a fruity fragrance, they fade to creamy-white over time while keeping their rich butter-yellow coloration at their base. The blooms appear on naked branches in mid to late spring, before the ovate, fresh green leaves unfurl. Since it flowers late in the season, its pretty blossoms rarely run the risk of damage from late frosts. Slow-growing, this hybrid Magnolia is ideal for small gardens.