Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerMagnolia × soulangeana and other species
Magnolia: when it's in season in Australia
Magnolia is in season in Australia from August to September. In Queensland the season runs June to August.Being confirmed
- Right now
- In season in September
- Season
- August to September
Season by state
Magnolias in Australia are mostly garden and street trees, so their season is really when they flower. Deciduous types bloom on bare branches in late winter and early spring, roughly August and September, and star magnolia is usually first. They flower most reliably where winters are cool, and a late frost can brown the open blooms. Cut branches do reach the flower markets for a short spell, and Brisbane's Northside Flower Market lists magnolia as a winter line. The evergreen Magnolia doltsopa flowers creamy white through winter.
Where to buy magnolia
Sold by the branch when available; supply is short and seasonal. Being confirmed
How to choose good magnolia
Pick branches for their shape as much as their flowers. A good one has buds spread along its length, not just bunched at the tip, and a line that will look right leaning out of a vase. The furry bud cases should be intact, and any open flowers should be clean white or pink with no brown bruising. One to three branches is plenty, since they are big and usually sold singly. Supply is short and patchy, so buy when you see it rather than waiting for a peak, and ask your florist to hold branches if you need them for a set date.
Grown here or imported?
Magnolia is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Magnolias grow as garden and street trees across the cooler south and in the ranges, and flower best where winters are cold and spring is sheltered from frost. The deciduous types most people know come from China and Japan, or are hybrids of them. The standout public display is Magnolia Gully at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in the Adelaide Hills, planted from the 1970s with 36 species, which usually flowers from the last week or two of August into mid-September. Older suburbs of Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart also have plenty of saucer magnolias in front gardens. Being confirmed
We're still checking whether out-of-season magnolia is imported into Australia, and from where. If you see it outside the months above, ask your florist where it came from.
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white
- pale pink
- deep pink-purple
- cream
Varieties to ask for
- Magnolia × soulangeana (saucer magnolia)
- Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra'
- Magnolia stellata (star magnolia)
- Magnolia doltsopa (evergreen)
Making it last
- Choose branches with fat buds just showing colour
- Cut the stem on a sharp angle and split woody ends about 3cm
- Stand in deep, cool water straight away
- Keep away from heaters so buds open slowly
- Handle open flowers gently, the petals bruise brown
- Change the water every two days
Using it at home
One branch in a tall, heavy vessel, like a ceramic jug or a stoneware crock, is all the arrangement magnolia needs. Keep the base heavy, as branches get top heavy once the flowers open. If you want to mix, keep other flowers low around the base: white tulips, daffodils or anemones, all in season in August and September. Buds open over several days in a cool room, then the petals drop a few days later, often all at once. Let them fall around the vase, they look good on a table.
Meaning
In the language of flowers magnolia is usually linked with dignity and nobility.
Questions people ask
When do magnolias flower in Australia?
Deciduous magnolias flower on bare branches in late winter and early spring, mostly around August and September, and later in cold districts. Star magnolia is usually first. The evergreen Magnolia doltsopa flowers through winter. Cut branches turn up at flower markets for a few weeks over winter.
Can you buy magnolia as a cut flower?
Sometimes. Flower markets carry magnolia branches for a short spell in winter, and Brisbane's Northside Flower Market lists it as a winter line. Supply is patchy, so if you want branches for an event, ask your florist early and be flexible on colour.
Where do magnolias grow best?
Deciduous magnolias flower best where winters are cool, and they like a sheltered spot because late frosts brown the open flowers. Gardening Australia notes the lily magnolia 'Nigra' does best in a mild area that doesn't get early spring frosts.
Are magnolias poisonous to dogs and cats?
The ASPCA lists star magnolia, Magnolia stellata, as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. That doesn't mean pets should chew branches or fallen petals, which can still upset a stomach, but a magnolia in a vase or in the garden is not a known poisoning risk.
When should I prune a magnolia?
Prune lightly, straight after flowering. Magnolias set next year's flower buds on this season's growth, so pruning in late summer or winter cuts off the display. Take out crossing, dead or damaged branches and otherwise leave the natural shape alone, as hard pruning spoils the form.
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