Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia x soulangiana
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Saucer magnolia blooms early, late spring frosts regularly damage the flowers.
medium water20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wideDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Avery Watkins, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Badgernet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 3: no rights reserved
- Photo 4: (c) Owen and Carol Fawcett., some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 5: (c) Fernando de Gorocica, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Photo 6: (c) KENPEI, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Hail tolerance
- low
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~30 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Bloom color
- pink, purple, white
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Saucer Magnolia good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Saucer Magnolia is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Saucer Magnolia get?
- It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide.
- How much room does Saucer Magnolia need?
- Give Saucer Magnolia about 30 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Saucer Magnolia grow into?
- Saucer Magnolia typically grows into a broad, rounded crown, the classic shade-tree silhouette. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Saucer Magnolia hardy on the Front Range?
- Saucer Magnolia is hardy in USDA 4–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does Saucer Magnolia need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Saucer Magnolia grow?
- Saucer Magnolia is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Saucer Magnolia live?
- Saucer Magnolia has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Saucer Magnolia native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Saucer Magnolia deer-resistant?
- Saucer Magnolia is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
