Horticulture:
The saucer magnolia flowers when only 2 to 4 feet tall and has
a medium growth rate. It has a wide-spreading root system that requires
plenty of room. It may be planted in groupings or as a specimen tree. 'Alba
superba' is a dense, erect-growing cultivar with fragrant, white, purple-tinged
flowers, whereas 'Burgundy' is an early-flowering, deep-purple-flowered
cultivar. In Iowa the star magnolia (M. stellata) and the cucumber tree (M. acuminata)
are also sometimes planted. The star magnolia is similar to the saucer magnolia,
but it has smaller leaves and 12 to 18 petals and sepals in much smaller
flowers.
