Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' (Royal Star Magnolia)

Michael's Opinion

Royal Star Magnolia is an ideal specimen as it is a medium sized tree with rather delicate white blooms presenting an 'airy' appearance when in flower.

Botanical Information

FamilyMagnoliaceae
GenusMagnolia
Speciesstellata
Cultivar'Royal Star'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (deciduous)
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone4 - 9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone5 - 8
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH6
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-30
Temperature (°F)-20
Height5-7 m
Spread3-4 m
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodApril, May

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionIt is a deciduous shrub/tree that grows to become a small-medium sized plant producing light green leaves and a bright white or pink flowers. It produces brown or red aggregate fruits filled with orange-red seeds that can fall before or after they have matured.
ID CharacteristicRoyal Star has relatively small leaves and stature when compared to most other members of the genus. It has bright white or pink coloured flowers surrounded by 10 - 12 sepals in multiple layers.
ShapeOften grown and pruned in a shrub-like or sphere shape, but naturally grows up and outward as the canopy matures.
LandscapePopular as a landscape feature when in bloom but otherwise having the character of a small tree and thus suitable for landscapes with limited space. Structural pruning will enhance the form and help to produce a more open specimen.
CultivationRoyal Star Magnolia can be grown in various types of soil but performs best in a sand or clay loam, with a pH of 5-7 and is able to adapt to dry soils. It can be planted in direct sunlight or partial shade and will survive if not watered regularly.
PestsRoyal star is susceptible to horse chestnut scale, a sap-sucking insect that embeds eggs in a white material and attaches itself to the tree's bark. Not causing significant damage to the tree, but often considered unsightly.
Notable SpecimensMagnolia stellata 'Royal Star' can be seen at the University of British Columbia's Botanical Garden; a collection that has been growing since the 1960's. Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Lanhydrock House and Garden, Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
HabitatBest grown in a loamy sand or clay, easily adaptable to dry conditions.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark is smooth and can range from brown to grey in colour with pronounced, small, white lenticels.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionRoyal Star has conical shaped white coloured buds that are quite tomentose and range in size from 1 - 1.5 cm. The larger terminal buds are the flowers typically superintended by the smaller leaf buds.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are linear shaped with an entire margin and are a light green in colour, 5-10 cm long.
Flower DescriptionRoyal Star has 12 - 18 narrow tepals in layers arranged in a whorl. Pink buds unfurling to white.
Fruit DescriptionIt produces brown or red aggregate fruits filled with orange-red seeds that can fall before or after they have matured; fruit ranges in size from 7.5 - 12.5 cm.
Colour DescriptionChestnut brown to grey bark, light green leaves, with a bright, pinkish-white coloured blooms and an absence of autumn colour.
Texture DescriptionFIt is a fine to medium textured plant that remains consistent throughout all seasons.

Photographs