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Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’

Magnolia × brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird'

Magnolia 'Yellow Bird', Yellow Bird Magnolia, Yellow magnolia, Winter flowers, Spring flowers, yellow flowers, fragrant trees, fragrant flowers, Magnolia × brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird'

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.

Introduced by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1981, ‘Yellow Bird’ is a hybrid Magnolia resulting from a cross between M. acuminata var. subcordata and M. x brooklynensis ‘Evamaria’.

  • Grows up to 40 ft. tall (12 m) and 30 ft. wide (9 m)
  • 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 cold winds may damage buds and flowers. Late frosts may damage flower buds too.
  • May be attacked by capsid bug, snails, horse chestnut scale, coral spot, gray mold, and honey fungus.
  • Spectacular as a 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

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 4 - 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 Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Magnoliaceae
Genus Magnolia
Common names Magnolia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)
Spread 25' - 30' (7.6m - 9.1m)
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, Showy
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
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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

Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet)
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Excelsior’ (Spanish Bluebells)

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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
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Pretty Magnolia trees and Shrubs for Small Gardens
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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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 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 Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Magnoliaceae
Genus Magnolia
Common names Magnolia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)
Spread 25' - 30' (7.6m - 9.1m)
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, Showy
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Magnolia
Not sure which Magnolia to pick?
Compare Now

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