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Butterflies Magnolia Tree

Magnolia x 'Butterflies'

Regular price $8991
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Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Fragrant, Flowering, Non-invasive, Thornless, and Attracts pollinators

Specifications

  • Botanical Name
    Magnolia x 'Butterflies'
  • Height
    20-30 ft
  • Width
    15-20 ft
  • Growing Zones
    4-9
  • Sunlight
    • Full sun
  • Growth Rate
    Moderate
  • Flower Color
    • Yellow
  • Leaf Color
    • Green
    • Yellow
  • Fall Color
    Orange/Red
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Bloom Period
    Late Spring
  • Fragrant
    Yes

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: For the most vibrant yellow blooms and the densest canopy, plant your tree in full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct light. While it can handle partial shade, you will likely see fewer flowers and a more open, "leggy" growth habit.
  • Soil: This Magnolia thrives in rich, well drained soil that stays consistently moist but never soggy. If you are dealing with heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve drainage, or plant the root ball slightly high to prevent "wet feet" and root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide 10 to 15 gallons of water per week to help the root system expand into the surrounding soil. Once the tree is fully established, it becomes moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent moisture during hot spells can lead to leaf scorch or smaller flower buds for the following year. Aim for deep, slow soakings at the base of the tree rather than frequent light sprinkles.

Pruning Tips

Butterflies Magnolias bloom on old wood, meaning the flower buds for next year are set shortly after the current season's flowers fade. To avoid cutting off next year’s show, only prune immediately after the flowers drop in late spring. Think of this like a light grooming to remove crossing branches or dead wood, which improves air circulation and keeps the tree’s upright, pyramidal shape tidy.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer designed for acid loving plants in early spring before the new growth starts. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost, leading to winter dieback. A layer of wood mulch around the base will also help maintain the soil acidity and moisture levels this tree loves.

Butterflies Magnolia - Spectacular Spring Flowers

  • Gorgeous Canary Yellow
  • Double Blooms Each Spring
  • Addictive Sweet Fragrance
  • Absolutely Adored by Pollinators
  • Lovely Pyramidal Shape
  • Large Shrub or Small Tree
  • Pollinator Heaven
  • Urban Pollution Tolerant
  • Cold and Heat Resistant
  • Full Sun to Part Shade

Imagine stepping outside on a fine spring day and seeing what appears to be a multitude of giant bright-yellow butterflies sitting among the bare branches of your Magnolia!

The gorgeous Butterflies Magnolia (Magnolia x 'Butterflies') is a small flowering tree or multi-stemmed ornamental shrub. With an abundance of bright, creamy yellow, double blooms, Butterflies is aptly named because when fully open, the flowers resemble butterflies in flight. Creating quite a show for your spring yard, making them nearly impossible to miss!

Your Butterfly Magnolia is one of the most desirable Magnolia trees on the market, and we trust that just by looking at that gorgeous bloom, you will see why! Its spring display must be seen to be believed! These lovely deciduous trees are covered in 10-16 tepals (petal-like sepals), creating tulip-like, canary-yellow blooms in early spring before the leaves arrive on the scene.

The sweet, lemony scent is a bonus to this spectacular display. Butterflies and other pollinators come from near and far for a taste of its sweet nectar. Snip a few to bring indoors and create lovely floral bouquets, or float one as a solitary bloom in a bubble bowl.

You can choose to grow it as a single tree or let it spread into a multi-stemmed shrub. Either way, it is incredibly captivating and will draw everyone in! It provides amazing, lush shade throughout the summer with its large, vivid green leaves.

Magnolia seed pods resemble exotic-looking cones. Providing interest in fall, they open to reveal bright red berries. And with their arrival, birds, squirrels, and other wildlife will adore the buffet!

How to Use Butterflies Magnolia In The Landscape

It would do well as a focal point anywhere in your yard since Butterflies love both full sun and partial shade. Creating a gorgeous privacy hedge or backdrop for smaller shrubs. Lovely interspersed amid other non-flowering bushes for added seasonal interest.

Excellent specimen or accent for sunny areas in the landscape where spring flowers can be appreciated. Working as both a small shade tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub for ornamental privacy screens and hedges.

The deep-green leaves are large and oval, making the tree remain attractive all summer. With an open pyramidal crown, it rises on a single trunk to a height of 15 to 20 feet and provides wonderful shade. You'll love the upright pyramidal form and oval canopy that creates a lovely silhouette for your landscape even when not in bloom. The amazing branching even looks lovely in winter.

It is perfect on the borders of wooded areas, or as a specimen on a lawn, and it brings great beauty early in the year when few other plants are blooming.

#ProPlantTips For Care

The Butterflies Magnolia is adaptable to pollution as well as being cold and heat tolerant. For Magnolia, full sun is ideal, requiring at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. This will give you the most flowers and the best color. However, Butterflies works as an understory tree that also does well in partial sun!

Hardy in USDA growing zones 5-9, these trees are cold-hardy and heat-resistant. Each bud is covered in an adorable fuzzy bud scale to protect it from spring frosts.

Magnolia grows in almost any well-drained soil, preferring acidic, loamy, moist planting medium that is organically rich. Also, do well if your soil is sandy or even in well-draining clay soils.

Requiring average moisture, these trees do very well in all conditions and are partly drought-tolerant once they're fully established. Mix organic material with the soil and water thoroughly. Use the "Finger Test" by sticking your finger into the soil near the roots to the second knuckle. If it's moist, skip watering that day. If dry, a nice, long drink is best.

With a tolerant root system, Butterflies Magnolia doesn't mind an underplanting of other perennials, groundcover, and smaller shrubs. If pruning is necessary to shape the plant, do so right after flowering; that way, you won't miss a single bloom!

A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill. A mulch layer also acts as a buffer if your tree is planted directly in your lawn. The silvery-gray bark is susceptible to mower and trimmer damage. You can also ring your tree with shade-loving perennials to protect the trunk.

Gorgeous ornamental trees that are easy-care and reliable bloomers are always highly sought-after for their high-impact style and versatile form. Add fragrance, unusual color, and versatility, and you have yourself one amazing plant!

The Butterflies Magnolia is a superior shrub and gorgeous tree that is exceptional among yellow-flowered Magnolias! A quick click away at Nature Hills Nursery, and you too can begin enjoying its spectacular floral display!

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