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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

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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
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 30' - 40'
(9m - 12m)
Spread 25' - 30'
(7m - 9m)
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 City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Magnolia sieboldii, Oyama Magnolia, Korean Mountain Magnolia, Siebold's Magnolia, White magnolia, White flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Magnolia tripetala, Umbrella Tree, Umbrella Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana var. tripetala
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem', Southern Magnolia 'Little Gem', Evergreen Magnolia 'Little Gem', Loblolly Magnolia 'Little Gem', Great Laurel Magnolia 'Little Gem', Big Laurel 'Little Gem', Bull Bay 'Little Gem'
Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth', Southern Magnolia 'Exmouth', Evergreen Magnolia 'Exmouth', Loblolly Magnolia 'Exmouth', Great Laurel Magnolia 'Exmouth', Big Laurel 'Exmouth', Bull Bay 'Exmouth'
Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia, Evergreen Magnolia, Loblolly Magnolia, Great Laurel Magnolia, Big Laurel, Bull Bay
Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris', Southern Magnolia 'Kay Parris', Evergreen Magnolia 'Kay Parris', Loblolly Magnolia 'Kay Parris', Great Laurel Magnolia 'Kay Parris', Big Laurel 'Kay Parris', Bull Bay 'Kay Parris'

Recommended Companion Plants

Cyclamen Coum, Persian Violet, Sowbread, Eastern Cyclamen, Round-Leaved Cyclamen, early flowering bulb, winter bulb, Pink flowering bulb, White flowering bulb
Convallaria Majalis, Lily of the Valley, Conval Lily, Word Lily, Mayflower, Mugget, Liriconfancy, May Bells, May Lily, Our Lady's Tears, Lady's Tears
Hyacinthoides Hispanica 'Excelsior', Spanish Bluebells 'Excelsior', Wood Hyacinth 'Excelsior', Scilla hispanica 'Excelsior', Scilla Campanulata 'Excelsior', Endymion Hispanicus 'Excelsior', Blue Flowers
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
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Height 30' - 40'
(9m - 12m)
Spread 25' - 30'
(7m - 9m)
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 City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now
Guides with
Magnolia
Not sure which Magnolia to pick?
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