One of my favorite Spring-flowering trees is Magnolia Jane. It’s easy to grow, reliably hardy even through tough Winters, and puts on quite a show almost year-round. Here’s why you absolutely need at least one Magnolia Jane in your garden.
Of course, this was before I started blogging. If I had, I would have filmed and photographed the whole process, which would have been hilarious because we managed to fit all of those shrubs into our tiny Honda Fit car without losing a single leaf or flower!
(Again, this is a picture from before I started blogging. If I hadn’t, my husband and I would joke that I would have had to take out all of the soil and mulch bags to get good pictures! Hah!)
As of July 2017, I have a new post about how our Magnolia Janes look in the summer. The link is at the bottom of this post!.
We put the Magnolia Jane shrubs in our backyard before we knew what we were going to do there. We had an “L” of Arborvitaes along the right-hand back corner of our fence. (I know – very traditional, but I’ve grown to love how it looks. ).
We made the rookie mistake of moving a Dappled Willow from the front yard to the side yard. It turned out to be a great mistake, though, because we love how our Dappled Willow “wall” looks now! (Read about my Dappled Willow rookie mistake and the great result here.) ).
We put the Magnolia Jane shrubs where there was “some space” left over between the Arborvitaes and the Dappled Willow. (See what I mean about not really having a plan yet?).
The Magnolia Jane shrubs had many stems, and I knew I wanted them to get bigger than shrubs and become trees.
When we bought these Magnolia Jane shrubs, they were only 5 feet tall. In just two years, they grew to be 7 feet tall:
I’m keeping them as multi-stemmed trees, and rarely prune off any branches growing completely horizontal instead of up. (I might have done this twice. ) Otherwise, I don’t need to do much for them to maintain their pretty vase shape.
Our Magnolia Jane trees are the earliest of the Spring-flowering trees to bloom each April. Before there are any leaves on the tree, the blooms show up first. But as soon as the blooms start to open, bright green leaves appear!
And when you find the perfect Magnolia Jane flower blossom? Time stops and you enjoy it.
Gorgeous, right? You can have these moments too. I’m telling you: plant one of these trees. You need to. You’ll thank me. You’re welcome.
Here’s what our Magnolia Jane trees look like in Winter. The two trees on the left are Magnolia Janes. The reddish colored twigs on the shrubs to the right of them are Dappled Willow. It’s a pretty contrast of grey branches and reddish branches against the white fence. (And sometimes against the white snow too, if I’m lucky here in southern New Jersey. ).
Little catkins that look like big pussy willows grow as winter goes on. In my opinion, they are what they are called. By the early Spring, they look like this:
(Again, the branches to the right of the Magnolia Janes are from the Dappled Willow shrubs.)
The photo above was taken on April 6, 2014. The next photo below was taken just a couple of weeks later, on April 24, 2014:
When you plant your Magnolia Jane for the first time, fill the hole with leaf compost and add a bit of a soil acidifier to the soil around the tree. You should put mulch around the base of the tree, but don’t cover it all the way up. Leave some space around the base. (An inch or more is just fine. ).
For the first few years, we had to water our Magnolia Jane trees a lot. At least it sure felt like it. But it gets hot and sticky here quickly in the summer, and I think it took our Magnolia Janes at least two full seasons before they were happy and didn’t need any extra care.
To take care of your Magnolia Jane over time, add compost to the garden soil around the trees every spring and mix in an organic fertilizer according to the directions on the package, which will depend on the brand you use. (I use Holly Tone — click here to read about it on Amazon. ) Normally no pruning is necessary, unless you need to remove a random branch or two for shaping. If you really need to cut back some branches, wait until Magnolia Jane is done blooming in the spring. (This year’s flower buds grow on last year’s wood, so if you cut back anything in late summer, you might also cut back next year’s flowers. ).
We haven’t had to do much to take care of our Magnolia Jane trees these past few years since they are stable and happy. Whoo hoo!.
The Jane magnolia is a stunning ornamental tree prized for its spectacular spring blooms But how do these flowering trees fare when Old Man Winter comes to town? This article will explain everything you need to know about overwintering Jane magnolia trees
Jane Magnolia Winter Hardiness
One of the Jane magnolia’s best attributes is its cold hardiness. This exceptional hybrid can survive freezing winter temperatures as low as -25°F (-31°C).
Most magnolia species only thrive in the warm climates of USDA zones 7-9. But hardy Jane magnolias can grow happily in zones 4-8, which encompasses most of the continental United States.
The key is the tree’s deciduous nature. Jane magnolias drop their leaves in fall to conserve energy. Then they go dormant over winter before awakening with a dazzling floral display in spring.
Protecting Jane Magnolias in Winter
While Jane magnolias possess excellent cold tolerance, you may need to provide some protection during extreme winter weather:
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Insulate the roots – Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around the base to insulate the roots and prevent frost heave. Shredded bark or leaf mulch works well.
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Protect the trunk – In very cold climates, wrap the trunk with burlap or tree wrap to prevent winter sunscald.
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Stake large specimens – Staking prevents heavy snow or ice from splitting branches. Use wide, flexible straps that won’t chafe the bark.
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Site wisely – Shelter your Jane magnolia from harsh winds, which can damage frozen branches and desiccate foliage. A location on the south or east side of your home is ideal.
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Water during warm spells – Unusually warm days in winter can dehydrate dormant trees. Provide deep watering if temperatures rise above 40°F (4°C) for over a week.
Jane Magnolia Winter Care Tips
Follow these best practices to help your Jane magnolias thrive from season to season:
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Hold off on pruning – Wait to prune dead or damaged branches until late winter or early spring when you can assess winter damage.
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Apply dormant oil – Spraying a horticultural dormant oil in late fall smothers overwintering pests like magnolia scale.
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Clean up fallen leaves – Rake up and dispose of any fallen leaves to prevent fungal diseases like leaf spot.
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Fertilize sparingly – Jane magnolias need very little fertilizer. At most, apply a balanced, slow-release formula before spring growth.
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Water deeply as needed – Jane magnolias are quite drought tolerant, but don’t let the soil dry out completely during winter warm spells.
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Monitor for damage – In early spring, check for dieback in the branches and repair any bark splitting with pruning paint.
Signs of Winter Damage
Keep an eye out for these symptoms of cold injury on your Jane magnolia:
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Bronzed, curled leaves that wither and turn brown rather than dropping in fall
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Cracked, sunken, or discolored bark on the trunk and branches
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Dead spots or cankers on twigs and small branches
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Delayed leaf emergence and stunted spring growth
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Failure to bloom or only partial flowering
Colder Climate Considerations
In the coldest zones like 4b and lower, even hardy Jane magnolias may need some extra winter protection:
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Cover the entire tree with burlap or frost blanket when temperatures drop below -10°F (-23°C).
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Erect a temporary wooden frame around the tree and fill it with loose leaves or straw.
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Place Christmas lights underneath to generate a little heat.
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If planting a new magnolia, select a protected microclimate next to a wall or building.
Enjoy Magnolia Winter Interest
Though Jane magnolias lose their leaves in winter, they still contribute:
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Striking silhouettes—the bare, contorted branches are artistic.
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Subtle fragrance—fallen petals release scent when stepped on.
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Animal food source—fruit and seeds provide winter forage.
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Year-round structure—the multi-stemmed forms make excellent screens.
So take time to appreciate your Jane magnolias, even during the dormant season. With proper care, these exceptional flowering trees will thrive and astound year after year.
How do our Magnolia Janes look now – in 2016?
The three pictures above show the steps a Magnolia Jane flower goes through to open. They were taken on March 30, 2016.
Our Magnolia Jane trees are at least 10 feet tall now.
I was very excited to snap pictures this year, especially as I was preparing this post for you.
I knew I’d have to wait about a week to tell you all about the beautiful show. Because Magnolia Jane trees bloom in the middle of spring, they usually don’t get damaged by frost like earlier blooming Magnolias like the Star Magnolia. It’s something you’ll read about them.
So guess what happened?
We’ve had a series of below-freezing temperatures almost every night this week. And rain. Here’s what the flowers look like today:
Yes, I almost cried this morning.
There were actual tears forming in my eyes as I just stood there, almost defeated.
Until I stepped back and examined the trees a bit more and saw this:
Yes, it’s another frost-damaged flower blossom, but look what’s in the background: several yet-to-be-opened flowers!
Top 5 Best Magnolias for Cold Climates | NatureHills.com
FAQ
Do Jane Magnolias lose their leaves in winter?
What does Jane magnolia look like in winter?
Can magnolia trees survive winter?
What temperature can a Jane magnolia tolerate?
Do Jane magnolia trees bloom?
Jane magnolia trees are vigorous, blooming with massive, colorful flowers even in cold climates. Jane magnolia trees provide a burst of color with fragrant, reddish-purple blossoms that appear in late spring.
Can Jane magnolia survive winter?
Jane Magnolia is a cold-hardy tree that can survive freezing winter temperatures. At the extreme edges of its range, you can wrap in burlap and mulch around the base during deep freeze periods. Jane magnolia is a hardy shrub with few pest or disease problems that are serious enough to warrant treatment.
What is Jane magnolia?
Jane magnolia (Magnolia ‘Jane’) is a hybrid of other magnolia varieties grown as a tree or shrub featuring magnificent purplish-reddish fragrant blooms in late spring.
Do magnolia trees need winter care?
Magnolia trees like the Magnolia Ann, Magnolia Jane, and Start Magnolia tree are very cold hardy and do not need winter care unless you are located in a zone 4 or colder. If you have a Southern Magnolia, which is an evergreen tree, you will need to protect it in the winter if you live in zones colder than zone 7.
What does a Jane magnolia tree look like?
Jane magnolia trees provide a burst of color with fragrant, reddish-purple blossoms that appear in late spring. Like the other seven “Little Girl” varieties, the Jane magnolias are compact enough for small yards and cold-hardy enough to bloom even in northern states.
Can you grow a Jane magnolia as a small tree?
You can grow Jane magnolias as small trees, or plant them in clusters and prune them into shrubs for a privacy screen. Our guide covers everything you need to know about adding these low-maintenance flowering trees to your garden. Jane magnolia trees can be trained into either shrubs or small trees.