Susan Magnolia · Magnolia susan

A hybrid of M. liliiflora 'Nigra' and M. stellata 'Rosea', Magnolia susan belongs to the Little Girl series developed at the US National Arboretum in the 1950s. It forms a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree reaching 3 to 4 m tall with an equal spread, carrying an upright to rounded crown. Growth is slow, typically under 30 cm per year, so the form at planting persists for years with minimal intervention.

Goblet-shaped flowers open from mid-April into May, each bearing six slightly twisted tepals coloured deep fuchsia-pink on the exterior and paler inside. The flowers carry a light citrus fragrance. Sporadic repeat flowering can occur in mid-summer. Ovate leaves (to 15 cm) are medium green through the growing season and turn yellow-bronze before dropping. The delayed flowering period, two to four weeks later than M. stellata or M. x soulangeana, is its most relevant specification trait: in northern Portuguese locations where late March frosts still occur, this timing protects the display.

Magnolia susan requires acidic to neutral, moist but well-drained soil. The granite and schist soils of the Minho and Douro regions, including the Amarante area where Diaplant grows its stock, suit this species well. In Greater Porto and the humid north, it performs reliably with natural rainfall once established. In Greater Lisbon, where soils tend towards limestone-derived alkalinity, soil amendment and reliable irrigation are necessary; lime-induced chlorosis is a risk on unmodified calcareous substrates. Coastal Algarve and interior Alentejo conditions fall outside this hybrid's practical range: prolonged drought stress and alkaline sandy or schist soils make establishment difficult and maintenance disproportionate.

The fleshy root system is easily damaged during transplanting, so the planting position should be treated as permanent. A sheltered site is advisable: strong wind damages open flowers and warm south-facing exposures can trigger premature bud break in late winter. Formative pruning is rarely needed beyond removal of dead wood. Powdery mildew can affect foliage in humid summers, a consideration in the Atlantic-influenced north, though overall disease resistance is good. For projects requiring a small-scale focal element in a courtyard, walled garden (jardim murado), or shaded residential entrance, this hybrid offers a contained, low-maintenance alternative to the larger and earlier-flowering M. x soulangeana.