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Susan Magnolia

Magnolia x 'Susan'

Nature Hills Nursery
$7826
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: For the most abundant flower production, give your Susan Magnolia at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. While it tolerates partial afternoon shade, expect the color intensity and overall bloom count to be noticeably reduced.
  • Soil: This tree demands a rich, moist, and slightly acidic soil that drains well; think of its native forest floor environment. If you have heavy clay, incorporate liberal amounts of compost and aged pine bark to improve drainage, as Magnolias hate "wet feet."

Watering Requirements

During the first year, deep watering two to three times a week is critical to establishing a strong root system. Once mature, your Susan Magnolia is moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent summer watering will quickly stress the tree, resulting in smaller flowers and early leaf drop. Aim for a thorough soaking every ten days during prolonged dry spells to keep it happy.

Pruning Tips

The Susan Magnolia blooms on old wood, meaning next year’s flower buds are set shortly after this spring’s blooms finish. For this reason, you must do all necessary pruning immediately after the flowers fade in early spring. This allows the tree sufficient time to set new buds for the following year, which is the "why" behind this careful timing.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow-release, balanced granular fertilizer—such as a 10-10-10 or one formulated for acid-loving plants—in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. A good "what to avoid" tip is skipping high-nitrogen fertilizers after mid-summer. Too much late-season nitrogen encourages tender, new growth that will not harden off properly and is extremely vulnerable to winter injury.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6 Week of March 2nd
Zone 7 Week of February 23rd
Zone 8-12 Week of February 15th


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 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

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Magnolias are fantastic additions to your spring landscape! The Susan Magnolia shrub (Magnolia x 'Susan') is a sweet little Magnolia hybrid that will provide years and years of pleasure.

This little gem was developed in the late 50s at the National Arboretum and is one of the eight "Little Girl" Magnolias introduced at the time. They don't become large trees, like in the pictures you see of Antebellum plantations. Instead, Susan stays as lovely shrubs or small multi-trunked trees!

Susan has sweetly scented flowers that are soft purple-pink on the bottom and white inside the 'cups'. The petals are slightly twisted which gives the whole shrub a sense of dynamic movement. In late spring the flowers smother the stems before the leaves emerge.

Susan blooms later than other spring flowering shrubs, which helps it avoid frost damage to the flower buds. The flowers make great cuts for bouquets, too! Fall brings golden yellow foliage before the leaves drop to reveal the branching structure for the winter.

Landscape Application:

As either a small specimen tree or a large 8 - 12 feet tall and wide shrub, Susan Magnolia is a gorgeous front yard tree and street tree! Standing out on the corner of your home to soften the edges or accent a raised berm in your front landscaping beds!

Susan Magnolia works wonderfully in containers and large planters, these smaller plants become the focal point of any landscape each spring! Even if you don't have a landscape, these smaller plants work on porches, balconies, and patios!

In larger landscapes, use Susan Magnolia as a large shrub for screening and property division, especially when you keep the lower limbs to the ground for the most privacy. Screen in a meditation area, around your poolside seating, or add spring blooms to a mixed shrub border!

  • Unique, Softly Twisting Cuppy Purple Pink Petals
  • Wonderfully Scented & Pollinator-Friendly
  • Dramatic Spring Bloom
  • Small Tree Or Large Shrub
  • Specimens, Container Accents, Hedges & Focal Points

#ProPlantTips for Care

When planted in a spot they like, Magnolias are very hardy and not fussy at all! Susan isn't fussy about soil and does fine in semi-shade in hot climates or full sun in cooler growing zones of USDA planting zones 4 to 8. Choose a full-sun location with some afternoon shade in hotter growing zones. Any organically rich well-drained soil works well and Magnolia loves regular moisture access. Using mulch beneath your plants will benefit the health of your plants immensely.

Right after the blooms fade, you can do some light pruning for more formal situations. Any pruning done in winter dormancy will remove flowers from the branches.

  • Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Well-Drained Soil
  • Moderate Moisture Needs
  • Prune After Flowering
  • Deer Resistant
  • Very Easy To Grow

Tree or shrub, the Susan Magnolia will grace your landscape and shine in the spring! Order yours today at NatureHills.com!

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.

Growing Zones 4-8

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