(Small) Trees of the Week:

‘Betty’ and ‘Susan’ Magnolias

Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x  Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’

Both Betty and Susan are part of the “Girl” series of magnolias bred at the U.S. National Arboretum in the mid 1950s.  Crossing lily magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’) with star magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’) created sterile F1 hybrids with improved features when compared to the straight species. Blooms occur two to four weeks later than star and saucer magnolias which reduces the likelihood of late spring frost damage. 

Betty’s blooms are up to 8” in diameter with 12-18 tepals per flower. Outer tepals are greyed-purple at base shading to a red-purple at tips, white on the inside. (photo at top of page)

Susan’s blooms are 4-6” in diameter with only 6 twisted tepals with a light fragrance. Tepals are a deep red-purple both inside and out:

All magnolias in the series experience sporadic summer blooms which add landscape interest with surprise blooms.  These magnolias are deciduous and foliage turns yellow in fall.

Use Betty or Susan as a specimen in your landscape to highlight their floral displays.  Silvery gray bark and multi-stemmed habit can also provide winter architectural interest in the garden. 

NAME:  

Named after Pierre Magnol, a French botanist from the 17^th century. Magnol is credited with the categorizing related groups of plants into “families”

NATIVE RANGE:  

Hybrids crossed in Washington, DC.  Parentage species lily magnolia and star magnolia originally from SE China and Japan, respectively.

FUN FACT:  

In the United States, the Magnolia tree symbolizes luck and stability.  All of the “girls” in the series are named after the daughters of breeders William Kosar and Dr. Francis de Vos, Arboretum director Henry Skinner, and the wife of Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman.

GROWING CONDITIONS:

• SOIL:

  Prefer loam soil with adequate moisture, and tolerate both poorly drained, heavy clay soils and dry areas.

• SUNLIGHT

  Full sun to light shade

• HEIGHT/WIDTH:

  Betty: rounded, multi-stemmed 15’ tall and 17-21’ wide

  Susan: fairly upright, multi-stemmed 12-15’ tall and 15’ wide

• ZONES:  

  3b-8

For sizes, prices, and current stock, see our Tree and Shrub Availability Page: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/tree-shrub-availability