The southern magnolia is a beautiful and hardy tree that would look great in any Nashville yard. It has lovely flowers that smell great and bushy evergreen leaves that provide privacy, shade, and a home for animals all year long. Here, we’ll go over the “D. D. Blanchard” cultivar, which produces the large, creamy white blossoms Nashvillians know and love. Read on to learn all about this superb species and its place in the neighborhood landscape!.
The DD Blanchard magnolia is a popular evergreen variety known for its lush foliage and abundant white blooms. With a moderate growth rate and adaptable nature it’s an excellent choice for gardens across a range of climates. Read on to learn all about the DD Blanchard magnolia’s size, growth habits, ideal conditions and care requirements.
Overview of the DD Blanchard Magnolia
The DD Blanchard magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘D.D. Blanchard’) is a cultivar of the classic Southern magnolia. It was selected by Donellan D. Blanchard of Louisiana and introduced in the 1950s. Some key facts:
-
Type Evergreen magnolia variety,
-
Mature height Typically reaches 40-60 feet
-
Mature spread: Up to 30 feet wide.
-
Growth rate: Average of 2 feet per year.
-
Flowers: Large, fragrant, creamy white blooms from late spring through summer.
-
Foliage: Thick, leathery leaves with a deep green upper surface and rusty underside.
-
Hardiness: USDA zones 7-9. Withstands winters to about 0°F.
-
Soil: Adaptable, but prefers moist, acidic, well-draining soil.
Ideal Conditions for Growing DD Blanchard Magnolia
The DD Blanchard magnolia thrives in warm climates with sufficient moisture and acidic soil. Here are its preferred growing conditions:
-
Climate: Performs best in USDA zones 7-9. Ideal areas include the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest.
-
Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
-
Soil needs: Moist, fertile, acidic soil with good drainage. Soil pH between 5.0-6.5.
-
Moisture: Consistent irrigation needed, especially during dry periods. Prefers soil that stays slightly moist.
-
Wind tolerance: Withstands some wind, but shelter from strong gusts helps protect leaves and flowers.
Caring for a DD Blanchard Magnolia Tree
Proper care will keep your DD Blanchard magnolia healthy and support an average growth rate of 2 feet per year:
-
Watering: Water deeply 2-3 times per week in dry weather. More mature trees are somewhat drought-tolerant.
-
Fertilizing: Apply acidic fertilizer in early spring and midsummer. Look for formulas designed for camellias and azaleas.
-
Pruning: Remove dead wood as needed. Prune to shape in late winter. Avoid heavy pruning.
-
Pest/disease issues: Aphids, scale, and caterpillars may attack. Root rot can be a problem in poor drainage. Disinfect tools between cuts to prevent spread of diseases.
-
Winter care: Protect young trees if temperatures drop below 10°F. Mature trees generally withstand winter cold.
Where to Buy a DD Blanchard Magnolia
You can purchase a DD Blanchard magnolia at local nurseries and garden centers in zones 7-9. Larger specimens are also available from online retailers. Expect to pay $50-150 for a 5-10 gallon potted tree. Buying young, greenhouse-grown saplings helps reduce transplant shock.
Alternatives to DD Blanchard Magnolia
Some other evergreen magnolia varieties to consider include:
-
Little Gem magnolia – More compact variety, 10-15 feet tall.
-
Kay Parris magnolia – Dense growth habit with darker leaves.
-
Claudia Wannamaker magnolia – Abundant blooms, better cold hardiness.
-
Alta magnolia – Taller tree to 80 feet, very hardy.
For cooler climates, the star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a excellent deciduous option, with white or pink spring flowers.
The stately DD Blanchard magnolia deserves its popularity, thanks to the handsome foliage, plentiful blooms, and relatively fast growth rate. With the proper care and conditions, it makes a beautiful focal point in the garden.
Our Tree of the Month: The Southern Magnolia
Native to the Southeast, the southern magnolia is a beloved and iconic local plant. The southern magnolia grows as far north as Tennessee, so we shouldn’t be afraid to plant these beautiful trees around town!
Its scientific name, Magnolia grandiflora, refers to the tree’s large leaves. The “D. D. Blanchard” cultivar makes the waxy, emerald green leaves with a coppery underside that you can find on these bushy trees. The leaves are evergreen and remain on the tree year-round. If you plant a southern magnolia in front of a window or in a row along the edge of your property, its thick leaves can provide shade and privacy. Naturally, southern magnolias’ leaves grow all the way to the ground. However, the lower trunk can be trimmed to make the tree shape (there is a saying that a tree is a shrub that you can walk under!).
As a native tree, southern magnolias provide important habitats for local wildlife. Bees, other insects, and hummingbirds are drawn to the big flowers’ pollen and nectar, which they then spread to other trees and flowers in the area. Squirrels, opossums, cardinals, mockingbirds, and other tree-dwelling animals depend on the magnolia’s fall seeds and year-round cover for food and safety.
Southern magnolia trees don’t produce fruit; instead, they make cone-like structures that put out bright red seeds. It’s not true that magnolia trees are conifers; trees that make true cones don’t have flowers because the pollen is inside the cone. The southern magnolia’s seed pods emerge in late summer, and the seeds drop and are eaten over fall.
The southern magnolia tree is beautiful and good for the environment, but it can also live in cities and suburbs. It does best in full sun, but it can handle some shade, and it can grow in almost any type of soil. Because it is native to the southeast, it can handle both flooding and drought.
How Fast Do Southern Magnolia Trees Grow?
Although it’s bushy, a southern magnolia “D. D. At a rate of about one to two feet per year, this magnolia tree will reach a full height of 70 feet and reach up into the canopy. Blanchard” is not a shrub! These beautiful trees can live up to or more than one hundred years, and as they get older, they take on a shape that is only found in southern magnolias.
DD Blanchard Magnolia Grandiflora, Bell FL 32619 Nature Coast Tree
FAQ
How big do Blanchard magnolias get?
Which magnolia is the fastest growing?
How tall is a 10 year old magnolia tree?
What is the difference between southern magnolia and dd blanchard magnolia?
How big does a DD Blanchard tree get?
‘D.D. Blanchard’ is a magnificent cultivar with unique large dark green leaves and rusty brown undersides. It has the ability to maintain a straight central trunk, which allows it to be grown full to the ground or be pruned into tree form with a visible trunk. Mature trees will reach around 50′ tall with a 35′ wide canopy.
How do you know if a Magnolia DD Blanchard is a good tree?
Magnolia D.D. Blanchard are densely foliated trees with a wide but pyramidal growth habit and tend to have branches very near ground level unless pruned up by removing the lower branches to expose underneath the tree. – Magnolia D.D. Blanchard trees are moderate growers with an extremely long life span.
What is a Blanchard magnolia tree?
The easy-care D.D. Blanchard magnolia tree is an improved cultivar of an elegant southern classic with huge, unbelievably fragrant blossoms. Read all about it!
What is a DD Blanchard Magnolia?
ACORNS? The DD Blanchard Magnolia has distinguished itself from other Magnolia grandiflora cultivars with its ability to maintain a straight central trunk, which allows the DD Blanchard to be grown full to the ground or be pruned into tree form with a visible trunk.
Where can I plant a Magnolia DD Blanchard?
Magnolia D.D. Blanchard can be planted closer to structures where you will be clearing the lower branches up and away from impediments such as sidewalks, sheds, garages etc. – Southern Magnolias also make excellent street trees.
What kind of soil does Magnolia DD Blanchard prefer?
The leaves are a deep dark shiny green on the surface with a deep dark coppery brown underneath making quite a contrast of color and the perfect backdrop to the huge white fragrant Magnolia blooms. – Magnolia D.D. Blanchard will prefer slightly acidic soil but will tolerate sand, loam, clay, slightly alkaline and even occasionally wet soils.