Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'

Nature Hills Nursery

Leonard Messel Magnolia Blooms Purple-Pink Outside, Pure White Inside for Stunning Two-Toned Spring Flowers
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 15-20 ft Tall, 12-18 ft Wide
Showy Purple, White Blooms From Early Spring to Late Spring
Perfect for Shade Tree or Street Tree

$96⁰⁵

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Plant Size

#3 Container Multi Stem

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Your Leonard Messel Magnolia performs best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day to produce the maximum number of those star-shaped blooms. While it can tolerate partial shade, too much shade will result in a sparse canopy and significantly fewer flowers.
Soil: Ideally, plant this tree in rich, moist, and well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. If you are working with heavy clay or sandy soil, mix in organic matter like compost or pine bark to improve drainage and moisture retention.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist during the first year or two to help the root system establish itself in your landscape. Once established, the tree is moderately drought tolerant, though a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch helps retain essential moisture during hot spells. Inconsistent watering can stress the tree, leading to premature leaf drop or reduced bloom quality the following season.

Pruning Tips

Since this Magnolia blooms on "old wood" (buds formed the previous year), the only safe time to prune is immediately after it finishes flowering in late spring. Pruning any later in the year will cut off the developing flower buds for next spring. Focus on removing dead or crossing branches to maintain a healthy structure and allow air circulation.

Fertilizer Needs

Feed your tree with a slow-release, granular fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants in early spring before new growth takes off. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers after July, as this pushes soft new growth that will not have time to harden off before winter temperatures arrive.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Flowering, Fragrant, Attracts pollinators, Non-invasive
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	15-20 ft
Width	12-18 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Loamy, Peaty
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	Purple, White
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Magnolia
Botanical Name	Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Species	x loebneri
Cultivar	Leonard Messel
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Spectacular Blooms Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree

Winner of Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
Excellent Size for Small Space Gardens
Two-Toned Strappy Blooms on Bare Branches
Blooms a Bit Later Than Other Star Magnolias
Reliably Beats Late Frosts
Purple Flower Buds Open to White Interior
Fragrant Blooms Age to Gorgeous Lavender-Pink
Expertly Shaped as a Single Stem Tree Form
Fine-Textured Narrow Leaves
Widely Adaptable
Cold Hardy

Gain a glorious focal point, the easy way! With ravishing, bi-colored flowers, this showy, Star Magnolia-type fit anywhere...even in courtyards and other small spaces.

Our tree experts have carefully crafted the lovely Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree Form (Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel') into a single-trunk tree form. They are absolutely breathtaking in bloom.

Purple buds emerge in late winter on the bare branches. You'll be thrilled to track their elongation and growth as a sure sign that Old Man Winter is nearly finished.

Leonard Messel is a bit delayed in opening their buds, compared to other varieties. That's a good thing!

Magnolia blooms can be damaged by frost, so the later the bloom period, the better. These freshly fragranced blooms are incredible, so you'd hate to miss them.

Held on bare branches, the purple buds open into long, strap-like petals. The interior is pure white, and the two-toned display works beautifully when studied up close.

At a distance, the flowering display reads a blended lilac. As the flowers age, they'll mature into a lovely lavender pink with variation from bloom to bloom.

Frankly, it's no wonder why this delightful tree won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. The bloom is showy, yet refined, and so welcome after a long, cold winter.

Honey bees appreciate the flowers, too. Feel good about this choice to support the beneficial pollinators in your neighborhood.

It's okay to sneak a few of the branches for elegant, long-lasting cut flower arrangements. Their fresh, lemony scent only adds to the delightful experience.

These pretty trees also provide shade and screening all season. Use them with pride in your front yard, or appreciate their charm in the backyard, too.

If we are in stock on the site, please place your order right away. We work with professional garden designers across the country, and they move fast to dazzle their clients with these beautiful trees.

Order Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree Form today! What a wonderful small flowering tree.

How to Use Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree Form in the Landscape

Add one as a single specimen to anchor a planting bed. Try it at the corner of your house in your foundation planting. Be sure to enlarge the mulch bed to include it as a very gracious accent.

Give yourself something gorgeous to look at as you do the dishes. This tree looks great as a living screen outside of windows.

Plant a traffic-stopping row of this special tree-form Leonard Messel along your driveway, or use it at your property line. Space them 10 feet apart on center to let the canopies touch, measuring from trunk to trunk. Increase the spacing to 20 feet apart on center, if you prefer a formal row of individual trees.

In a larger property, why not mix with other flowering trees in a long, wide mulched border for a spectacular spring show? Don't forget to underplant with a generous drift of spring-flowering bulbs!

Include some of the hot new Redbud varieties. Mix a Crabapple and Flowering Dogwood tree into the design. Or, stick with Magnolias in all colors.

If you have treasured mature evergreen trees, add a few Leonard Messel Magnolia on the south side in a new mulched bed. Perk up their stolid good looks with charming springtime blooms.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant where they'll receive at least six hours of sunshine a day. You'll get the best flowering with more sun!

They will perform at their best in slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Use a raised bed, if you need to improve drainage.

Mulch is greatly appreciated by all Magnolias. Apply a three-inch layer of pine straw or pine bark mulch. Pull the mulch back six inches all around the trunk.

Keep the roots evenly moist with a regular schedule of supplemental water, in the absence of rainfall. Like Goldilocks, these trees don't like being overly dry or overly wet; keep the moisture "just right".

Prune to shape or correct only after the spring blooms are past. We recommend that you plan out your pruning cuts in advance to avoid unfortunate overzealousness.

Enjoy these spectacular, commercial landscape-grade Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree Form from Nature Hills. Order yours today!

Tree Form vs. Shrub Form

The details make all the difference in a garden. At Naturehills.com, we understand that little things like what form a plant is can greatly impact how you plan your landscape. So before you buy, don’t forget to check which form you’re getting.

Tree Form:

These are plants that have one stem coming from the ground. Plants can also be considered single stem when lower branches are removed to raise the height of the branching to a more desired height. Sometimes, you will hear a tree form referred to as a single stem.

Shrub Form:

These are bushy plants with many stems and branches close to the ground. They are referred to as shrubs or bushes and are often shorter than their tree forms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is the Leonard Messel Magnolia suitable for?

Leonard Messel Magnolia is cold hardy and widely adaptable across multiple USDA zones. This reliable bloomer tolerates harsh winters and blooms later than other star magnolias to avoid frost damage. Check your specific zone for best results.

How tall and wide does a Leonard Messel Magnolia grow at maturity?

Leonard Messel Magnolia typically reaches 12-15 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide at maturity. This compact size makes it perfect for small gardens, courtyards, and tight spaces where larger magnolias won't fit. Shop at Nature Hills for expertly shaped single-stem specimens.

How often should I water my newly planted Leonard Messel Magnolia?

Water newly planted Leonard Messel Magnolia deeply twice weekly for the first month, then weekly through the first growing season. The soil should stay consistently moist but never waterlogged. Check soil moisture 2-3 inches down and adjust watering based on rainfall and temperature.

Is the Leonard Messel Magnolia a fast-growing or slow-growing tree?

Leonard Messel Magnolia is a moderate grower, typically adding 1-2 feet per year once established. This Star Magnolia hybrid reaches its mature size steadily without being aggressive. Plan for 10-15 years to reach full height and width for best landscape planning.

Is the Leonard Messel Magnolia deer resistant?

Leonard Messel Magnolia has moderate deer resistance, though hungry deer may browse young growth in spring. The fragrant blooms and mature bark are typically left alone. Plant in protected areas if deer pressure is high, and shop Nature Hills for healthy specimens.

Can the Leonard Messel Magnolia tolerate clay soil or does it need well-draining soil?

Leonard Messel Magnolia adapts to various soil types including clay, though it performs best with good drainage. Like most magnolias, it tolerates heavier soils better than many flowering trees. Improve clay drainage by planting slightly raised or amend with compost.

What plants make good companions to grow near a Leonard Messel Magnolia?

Plant spring bulbs like daffodils and crocuses beneath Leonard Messel for early color before the magnolia leafs out. Since it blooms later than other star magnolias, pair with early perennials like hellebores or pulmonaria that thrive in partial shade. Keep companions at least 6 feet from the trunk to avoid root competition.

Does the Leonard Messel Magnolia need regular fertilizing and what type should I use?

Leonard Messel Magnolia benefits from annual spring feeding but doesn't require heavy fertilization. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (10-10-10) in early spring before bud break. Apply compost around the base annually for best results.

Leonard Messel Magnolia Tree

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'