Jane Magnolia for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on May 12, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your Jane magnolia in soil that receives adequate sun (a minimum of four hours a day of direct light, though more is better). Jane magnolias are tolerant of all soil types, from clay to sand, but they like moist soil that drains well. Unpot your sapling and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole in your chosen location that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole, and, while holding it upright and steady, fill in around it with topsoil mixed with well-rotted compost or manure, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the root zone to conserve moisture, taking care that it does not touch the trunk.

Watering and nutrients

Water newly-planted Jane magnolias several times a week for the first few weeks, until you see new growth starting to form. After that, taper back to once a week during the growing season, unless you’re experiencing extreme heat or drought — in which case increase your watering. You shouldn’t need to water your Jane magnolia during the winter. Fertilize your tree in spring and fall with a slow-release fertilizer that’s designed for acid-loving plants.

Pollination

Magnolias are an ancient family of plants, and their strategy for pollination dates back to millions of years ago, before the days of honeybees and other common pollinators of today. Their showy, fragrant flowers instead attract insects such as flightless beetles, which wander from flower to flower, distributing pollen as they go. Pollinated flowers then develop into cone-shaped structures that contain the seeds.

Pruning

Jane magnolias should be pruned sparingly. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches whenever you see them, as well as branches that rub against each other. Other than that, you should not need to prune your tree unless you are trying to keep it to a smaller silhouette as a container-grown specimen.

Pests and diseases

Jane magnolias are generally sturdy plants that have little problem with pests or diseases. Common insects that may be seen on them include weevils, thrips, and scale insects. A healthy tree can generally fend off infestations. If desired, releasing beneficial insects, such as ladybugs or parasitic wasps, can be helpful in dealing with unwanted insects. Diseases that may attack magnolias include canker, powdery mildew, and leaf spot. Application of a copper fungicide may help with fungal diseases, such as mildew.

Achieving maximum results

There are many ways to use a Jane magnolia in your garden or landscape. If your space is severely limited, consider growing one or two in large decorative containers. A light pruning in spring will help keep them to a small and manageable size. When grown in the ground, they can serve as a border plant, and they make a lovely informal hedge or privacy screen when planted about 6 feet from each other. As a specimen plant, they have no equal, delighting the eye with their long-lasting blooms. Consider planting a grouping of three in a front yard, surrounded by low-lying plants that will complement their blooms and can thrive in partial shade, such as ferns, hostas, or astilbes. Jane magnolias are also appealing along the edge of a woodland, where they should be fine in the dappled sunlight they receive.

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