Is the evergreen magnolia hardy?

A sensitive one when it comes to frost

Being hardy can be difficult - at least for the evergreen magnolia. Young specimens in particular are sensitive to frost. Later, when this shallow root is properly rooted, it is more tolerant of frost. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to plant the evergreen magnolia at high altitudes. A wine-growing climate is more suitable.

Varieties that are not made for rough locations

Winter hardiness varies from variety to variety. Most of the varieties on the market are found to be sensitive to frost. These include, for example, the widespread Magnolia grandiflora 'Galissonière' variety. But Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' and Magnolia grandiflora 'Goliath' are also little sensitive ...

Such varieties are suitable for locations with mild winter conditions. If you plant them in rough locations anyway, after a few years there is a high probability that you will see flowering rotten plants with a poorly mixed crown. In addition, in the worst case, you have to wait up to 15 years for flowers.

Particularly frost-hardy varieties

But there are varieties that generally tolerate frost better than others (down to -25 ° C). These cultivars usually come from North America. They include the following specimens:

Magnolia grandiflora 'Bracken's Brown Beauty'
Magnolia grandiflora 'Edith Bouge'
Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth'
Magnola grandiflora 'Victoria'

How to protect the plants

Evergreen magnolias on high stems should be wrapped with fleece in the stem area before winter begins. The branches receive a jute sack (€ 6.86 at Amazon *) as protection. The root area of this shallow root is covered with various materials.

lowest layer: bark mulch
middle layer: foliage
top layer: straw, brushwood

An evergreen magnolia in the bucket should be relocated to a bright and cool quarter over the winter. A well-ventilated stairwell is suitable, for example. Care is taken here: water sparingly and do not fertilize!