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Louisiana Super Plants: Magnolia x Jane

Damon Abdi, Fields, Jeb S.

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Download   P3707EE_SuperPlantJanexMagnoliapdf / 1.16MB Publication ID: 3707-EE

Magnolia x Jane

  • Common Name: Jane Magnolia.
  • Recommended Use: Focal tree for small spaces, late-winter blooms.
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun.
  • Size: Approximately 10 to 15 feet tall, 8 to 12 feet wide.
  • Habit: Multi-stem, upright to rounded form.
  • Bloom Time: Late winter/early spring.
  • Maintenance Category: Low to average.
  • Water Use: Average.
  • Highlights: Beautiful pink flowers in late winter add interest to the landscape. Size lends itself well to small spaces as a focal point.

Summary

As one of the first signals of spring, the bright pink flowers of deciduous magnolias are the talk of the town every February. One of our all-time favorites is Jane with blooms that cast a glow in the late-winter landscape. This hybrid magnolia is part of the renowned Little Girl Series developed at the U.S. National Arboretum, and like its “sisters,” the showy flowers run in the family. With the flowers flourishing before the foliage emerges, the roughly 6 to 8 inches wide, cup-shaped blooms stand out at the ends of the smooth, silvery stems. The pink exterior of the blooms conceals a soft white interior, where it is common to observe bees buzzing in the vicinity. Jane will only get 10 to 15 feet tall, and as a slow-growing, multi-stemmed tree, Jane is ideal for small places seeking something manageable in size that brings late-winter excitement to a public space. Planted in rows, a profuse late-winter bloom would turn into a dense hedge of foliage for a few months until the leaves drop and the cycle renews. The deciduous leaves on Jane are roughly 6 inches long and dark green as it matures in the summer. As a specimen tree in a yard, Jane is sure to entertain, plus you can train it to a standard if you so desire. Relatively low maintenance, Jane would only need pruning to remove branches exhibiting any of the four D’s – dead, dying diseased or damaged – or to shape the form of the tree. With flowering trees that bloom early in the year, such as Jane, it would be best to prune immediately after blooming has concluded. Fortunately, pruning and other maintenance is not as much of a relative concern with this slow-growing tree, making it an ideal choice for small spaces and locations with maintenance plans that are not as intensive. For anyone interested in welcoming a low maintenance, late-winter blooming tree to their landscape, Magnolia x Jane is a Louisiana Super Plant for 2024 and something to consider.

Requirements

  • Full sun to partial shade is ideal.
  • Well-drained but moist soil.
  • Slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter.
  • Prune to remove dead or damaged branches, if necessary.
  • Prune after blooming is finished.

Growth Habit

  • Multi-stemmed small tree.
  • Fairly slow grower.

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Jane’s pink blooms are 6 to 8 inches wide and reveal a soft white interior. Photo by Ashley Hickman

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The flowers on Jane emerge before the foliage are some of the first signs of spring each year. Photo by Ashley Hickman

4/22/2024 4:58:27 PM
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