ON THE SMALLER SIDE

There are a couple of delightful deciduous flowering magnolias that stay well under 25 feet tall yet produce fabulous large blooms in the spring equal to those of their larger counterparts. Magnolia 'Vulcan' is considered by many in the WOM (World Of Magnolias) to be possibly the finest of the Jury (New Zealand) hybrids to date. Its growth habit is upright and openly branched in youth, then becoming narrowly rounded at 20-25 feet in maturity. What will knock your socks off, however, are the huge, ruby red rounded blooms. This color is spectacular but requires patience. Although it flowers at an early age it takes a few years for the deepest color to develop, mellowing into a rich claret. These 7-inch flowers are richly colored on the inside as well.

Across the ocean to England we arrive at Caerhay's Castle, origin of the spectacular hybrid, Caerhay's Belle. A smaller and fairly upright tree, Caerhay's Belle has been known to bloom at an early age. What sets this one apart from other magnolias are the gigantic salmon-pink, rounded, blousy flowers. They are truly showstoppers at a whopping 12 inches across.

Both of these enchanting magnolias are well suited to the smaller city garden. Judiciously placed they will also perform well as a street tree. It is best to plant magnolias in full sun in rich, well-drained soil and avoid a windy site. Do not plant the area directly around these trees; instead apply a thick layer of mulch to allow the shallow fleshy roots room to breathe. Provide them with regular water during dry months.

– Heidi