Create Your Garden

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’

Magnolia × brooklynensis 'Elizabeth'

AGM Award
Magnolia 'Elizabeth', Elizabeth Magnolia, Yellow magnolia, Winter flowers, Spring flowers, yellow flowers, fragrant trees, fragrant flowers

Regarded as one of the best yellow-flowered Magnolias, award-winning Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ is a deciduous pyramidal tree of breathtaking beauty when in full bloom. Masses of large, cup-shaped, primrose yellow flowers, 8 in. across (20 cm), appear in early to mid-spring at the twig tips 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.

‘Elizabeth’ is a hybrid Magnolia resulting from a cross between the cucumber tree (M. acuminata) and Yulan magnolia (M. denudata). Introduced by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1978, this is one of the first yellow Magnolias to hit the horticultural market. This Magnolia makes a wonderful specimen or multi-stemmed tree and becomes one of the glories of the spring garden. While very hardy, its blooms, like those of most early blooming Magnolias, are susceptible to late frosts.

  • Grows with an upright, columnar habit up to 20-30 ft. tall (6-9 m) and 12-20 ft. wide (3-6 m)
  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and recipient of a Gold Medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
  • Full sun to part shade lover, this plant is 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 sandy 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 bugs, snails, horse chestnut scales, coral spots, gray mold, and honey fungus.
  • Spectacular as a specimen plant for dramatic early 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

Magnolia Tree: How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for a magnolia tree like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of this striking tree

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Climate Zones 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Magnoliaceae
Genus Magnolia
Common names Magnolia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid),
Height 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread 12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)
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
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Magnolia
Not sure which Magnolia to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Magnolia sieboldii (Oyama Magnolia)
Magnolia tripetala (Umbrella Magnolia)
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ (Southern Magnolia)
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’ (Southern Magnolia)
Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia)
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ (Southern Magnolia)

Recommended Companion Plants

Pachysandra terminalis ‘Silver Edge’ (Japanese Spurge)
Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet)
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Excelsior’ (Spanish Bluebells)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf Hydrangea)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Top 50 Most Beautiful Flowers Worldwide
54 Black Flowers and Plants: Add Drama to Your Garden
45 Yellow Flowers: Radiant Blooms for Every Season
Small Trees and Shrubs That Bloom In Fall
Small Trees and Shrubs That Bloom In Winter
Roots of Life: Exploring the Diverse World of Trees
Magnolia
37 Best Evergreen Trees for Privacy and Year-Round Interest
35 Best Flowering Trees for a Spectacular Garden Display
Small Trees, Big Impact: Maximize Your Garden’s Potential
Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
Add a Splash of Color: Perfect Flowering Shrubs for Small Gardens
Edible Flowers: 30 Beautiful Blooms to Grow for Garden and Table
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)
Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata)
Loebner Magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri)
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Anise Magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia)
Best Companion Plants for Camellias
Favorite Yellow Magnolia Trees for Your Garden
Pretty Magnolia trees and Shrubs for Small Gardens
Popular Types of Magnolia Shrubs and Trees
Magnolia Tree: How to Grow and Care with Success
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.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 5 - 9
Climate Zones 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Magnoliaceae
Genus Magnolia
Common names Magnolia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid),
Height 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread 12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)
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
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Magnolia
Not sure which Magnolia to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone