This small tree has a short trunk with grey bark and lateral branching that forms a rounded crown. It has dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown in autumn and the cup-shaped flowers are white tinged with purple on the back of petals and appear in late winter.

Hardiness zones 5 to 10

Magnolia x soulangiana is a hybrid derived from Magnolia liliifloraand Magnolia denudataby Etienne Soulange-Bodin in 1820 in Europe.

It prefers well drained fertile moist acidic loam and grows in an open to a wind protected sunny position and is drought tender and late frosts damage the flowers.

The Saucer Magnolia is grown for its flowers and habit. It is planted in small to medium-size gardens as a lawn specimen tree or used along borders for screening. It is suitable for low-mountain regions and establishes in 3 to 5 years and is long lived. It is also grown as a deciduous shade tree and adds colour to winter garden. The tree prefers protection from wind and hot westerly sun. The flowers persist until the leaves are formed in spring. ID 257

Magnolia(măg-NOL-ee-a) x soulangiana(soo-lon-zhee-AH-na)

'Magnolia': after a Director of the Montpellier Botanic Gardens, Professor Pierre Magnol; 'soulangiana': after M. Soulange-Boudin, who made the original cross in 1810.

Magnoliaceae(mag-NOL-ee-AY-see-ee)