Favorite Yellow Magnolia Trees for Your Garden

Yellow Magnolia Trees, Winter Blooming Magnolias, Spring Blooming Magnolias

Yellow Magnolia, Yellow Magnolias, Winter Blooming Magnolias, Spring Blooming Magnolias

Prized worldwide for the beauty of their exquisite flowers and majestic forms, Magnolias are beloved harbingers of spring, with their parade of showy, fragrant blooms, often on display before they leaf out. Generally recognized for their pure white or pale pink flowers, other colors, such as red, purple, or yellow, have been added.

While yellow-flowered Magnolias used to be a rarity, many hybrid Magnolias (about 60) are now available in various shades of yellow, ranging from soft to bright yellow, to golden-yellow, or even to orange-yellow.

Among these hybrids are Magnolia cultivars that gardeners particularly favor for their spectacular yellow flowers. They can be grown as flowering hedges or specimen plants. Some are ideal for small gardens, thanks to their small stature. They all bring some early sunshine into your garden, a welcoming sight after a long, cold, snowy winter!

Guide Information

Hardiness	4 - 9
Heat Zones	1 - 9
Climate Zones	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type	Shrubs, Trees
Genus	Magnolia
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Winter
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Landscaping Ideas	Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Favorite Yellow-Flowering Magnolias

Magnolia ‘Butterflies’

Renowned for its early and exquisite yellow blooms, Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ is a stunning deciduous shrub or tree. In mid-spring, it unveils an abundance of tulip-shaped, canary yellow flowers with red stamens. Fragrant and held upright, the blooms create a captivating spectacle. The foliage of dark green leaves emerges after the flowers, maintaining its allure throughout the season.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid)
Height	25' - 30' (7.6m - 9.1m)
Spread	10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ is a captivating deciduous tree with showstopping primrose yellow flowers that illuminate the landscape in early to mid-spring. Its large cup-shaped blooms last up to 4 weeks, gradually fading to cream. With glossy green leaves turning golden-yellow in fall, it offers year-round beauty and adds interest to any garden.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid)
Height	20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread	12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)

Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’

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.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread	8' - 12' (240cm - 3.7m)

Magnolia ‘Ivory Chalice’

Magnolia ‘Ivory Chalice’ is a remarkable deciduous shrub or small tree. Its elegant, chalice-shaped, ivory flowers, 6 in. across (15 cm), grace the garden in late winter or early spring. Fragrant and adorning bare branches, they herald the arrival of spring. The obovate, dark green leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall, adding to the plant’s allure. Though hardy, the early blooms can be vulnerable to late frosts.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early), Winter
Height	30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)
Spread	30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)

Magnolia ‘Solar Flair’

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.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early)
Height	20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread	15' - 20' (4.6m - 6.1m)

Magnolia ‘Sunsation’

Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ is a stunning deciduous tree that delights with its vibrant color palette. Its upright flowers, in a beautiful blend of golden yellow with a rosy-purple base, grace the garden in mid to late spring. These large blooms, 7 in. across (17 cm), emerge before the leaves, ensuring their protection from late frosts. The dark green foliage of elliptic, ovate leaves adds to the tree’s overall appeal.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	20' - 25' (6.1m - 7.6m)
Spread	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ is a magnificent deciduous shrub or tree known for its stunning yellow blooms. The goblet-shaped flowers, 3 in. across (7 cm), emerge in late spring alongside the new leaves, creating a captivating display. With up to 6 tepals per bloom, the flowers can last for up to 3 weeks. In the fall, the elliptic green leaves turn a beautiful golden-brown, adding to the tree’s seasonal charm.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late)
Height	30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)
Spread	25' - 30' (7.6m - 9.1m)

Magnolia denudata ‘Yellow River’ (Yulan Magnolia)

Magnolia denudata ‘Yellow River’, also known as ‘Fei Huang’, is a small deciduous tree from China. Its sweetly fragrant, buttery-yellow flowers are goblet-shaped and resemble lilies. Blooming on naked branches in late spring, they fade to creamy white while retaining their yellow base. This slow-growing Magnolia is ideal for small gardens and avoids late frost damage.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)
Spread	10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)

Growing Magnolias

Full sun to part shade lovers, Magnolias are best grown in consistently moist, slightly acidic, organically rich, well-drained soils. Neutral to slightly alkaline soils are also suitable for growth. Magnolias are adaptable to clay, loam or sand soils, but most grow poorly in wet or poorly drained soils. Provide a site sheltered from cold, dry winds as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds. Late frosts may damage flower buds too.
May be attacked by capsid bug, snails, horse chestnut scale, coral spot, grey mould, honey fungus.
Spectacular as specimen plant for dramatic spring blooms. Great flowering tree for city gardens or cottage gardens.
Magnolia pruning should be carried out in midsummer when in full leaf
Deciduous Magnolias are best planted when dormant, in late fall or winter in warmer climates and early spring in cold climates. Evergreen magnolias are best planted in early spring. For the first 6 to 12 months after planting, both types will benefit from mulch and regular irrigation during warm or dry weather.
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Pretty Magnolia trees and Shrubs for Small Gardens

Magnolia Tree: How to Grow and Care with Success

Popular Types of Magnolia Shrubs and Trees

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Magnolia

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.