Saucer Magnolias

The Saucer Magnolia is one of the earliest signs of Spring here in the South. The trees literally burst into bloom overnight and are covered by the huge blooms. The leaves don't appear until the blooms drop off.

We have two Saucer Magnolia shrubs in our yard. On one the blooms start out a very soft, ballerina pink and deeper pink coloring appears as the bloom ages. The other Saucer Magnolia bursts into bright, hot pink blooms that glow in the sunlight. People walk up into our yard to take pictures of it!

They don't make long lasting cut flowers but I still like to cut a few to bring inside (especially if we are having a cold snap and aren't outside to enjoy the blooms.)

The facts via the Arbor Day Foundation:

A hybrid cousin of America's magnificent Southern Magnolia, the Saucer Magnolia is actually a large spreading shrub that take its name from its wide, saucer-like flowers. It was first cultivated in 1826. The fragrant, early-spring blossoms are white shaded with light to deep pink or purplish-pink. Big, broad leaves are dark green, and the smooth bark is silvery-gray. Medium- to fast-growing, good pollution tolerance. Likes moist, deep, acid soil and full sun. Grows to 20'–30'tall , 25' spread. (zones 4-9) 

The Saucer Magnolia just has one big show of blooms in the early Spring. The leaves are an attractive lighter green than the glossy, dark green leaves of the more familiar Southern Magnolia so it's still a nice addition to the garden even when it isn't blooming. It's a low maintenance, pest free shrub in our area so I highly recommend it. Plus that one week of amazing blooms each Spring will win you over!