Magnolia 'Betty' (Betty Magnolia)

Botanical Information

FamilyMagnoliaceae
GenusMagnolia
Cultivar'Betty'
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginIn the 1950's, the 'Little Girl Series' of Magnolias was developed at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., by Francis DeVos and William Kosar. The series includes 'Ann’, ‘Betty’, ‘Jane’, ‘Judy’, ‘Pinkie’, ‘Randy’, ‘Ricki’ and ‘Susan’. Magnolia 'Betty' is a cross between M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ and M. stellata ‘Rosea’.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5 - 8
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone6
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-4
Temperature (°F)25
Height3 - 5 m
Spread3 - 4 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionMulti-stemmed tree with interesting cup-like flowers.
ShapeUpright to drooping.
LandscapeAs a specimen tree.
PropagationSoftwood cuttings may be taken in early summer and rooted under mist and bottom heat. Layering of low branches in early spring.
CultivationGrown in partial shade to full sun in well-drained acidic, organic, clay based soils. Mulched tree wells are beneficial in protecting its thin bark.
PestsCanker and scale might be problematic.
Notable SpecimensThe Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Bark/Stem DescriptionSmooth glabrous bark with slightly pronounced lenticels and releases a sweet fragrance when crushed. Is thin and easily damaged by construction or machine operations such as lawn mowing. As it matures branches tend to droop touching the ground if left unpruned.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionThe terminal flower buds are extremely tomentose and are two scaled to 2 cm in length. Vegetative buds are 1/4 the size of the flower buds but are also tomentose and scaled.
Leaf DescriptionAlternate, simple, obovate to broad oblong-lanceolate, 7.5 – 15 cm long with a narrow apex and a more or less abruptly short pointed base. Undersides carry a fine pubescence.
Flower DescriptionLarge showy open-cupped blooms with pronounced, rigid petals measuring between 7 - 10 cm long.
Fruit DescriptionAsymmetrical lanceolate-ovate fruits, 10 cm long that mature in August through to September.
Colour DescriptionDull green leaves in the spring and summer turning a full, yellow in autumn. The flowers are reddish-purple on the exterior while the interior is almost white. The bark is light brown maturing to an even grey.
Texture DescriptionMedium to coarse.

Photographs