Below is a list of magnolia species and cultivars which currently (2016) hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Magnolias are shrubs or trees which put on a showy display of tulip-like flowers, often scented, in early to late spring. Many are slow-growing and may take several years to start flowering. They are suitable for cultivation in parks or gardens in temperate regions. M. stellata is suitable for smaller gardens. All are deciduous except for M. grandiflora, which is evergreen. The AGM citation includes a hardiness rating: all of the plants listed here are rated H6 (hardy down to -20 °C to -15 °C) or H5 (hardy down to -15 °C to -10 °C). This is indicated in the column marked H. Nevertheless, magnolias prefer a sheltered spot, and flower buds may be damaged by late frosts. The maximum size (height and spread) is shown in metres.
Listing Name AGM H Colour Scent Max size h×w Image M. 'Athene' 2012 H5 white/pink yes 8 × 8 M. 'Caerhays Belle' 2012 H5 pink no 12+ × 8+ M. 'Caerhays Surprise' 2012 H5 pink no 8 × 8 M. campbellii 'Darjeeling' 2012 H4 deep pink/wine no 10 × 4 M. 'Daphne' 2012 H6 pale yellow no 8 × 8 M. David Clulow' 2012 H5 white/pale pink no 8 × 8 M. 'Daybreak' 2012 H6 pink/red yes 10 × 3 M. denudata (yulan) 1993 H6 white yes 12 × 12 M. 'Elizabeth' 1993 H6 pale yellow yes 12 × 8 M. 'Galaxy' 1993 H6 rose-pink no 12 × 8 M. 'George Henry Kern' 2012 H6 pale pink/purple no 4 × 2.5 M. 'Gold Star' 2012 H6 creamy yellow no 8 × 4 M. grandiflora 'Kay Parris' 2012 H5 creamy white yes 8 × 4 M. grandiflora 'Victoria' 2002 H5 white yes 10 × 8 M. 'Heaven Scent' 1993 H6 rose pink yes 12 × 12 M. liliiflora 'Nigra' 1993 H6 red/purple no 4 × 2.5 M. × loebneri 'Donna' 2012 H6 white yes 8 × 8 M. × loebneri 'Leonard Messel' 1993 H6 lilac/pale pink yes 8 × 8 M. × loebneri 'Mag's Pirouette' 2012 H6 white yes 4 × 3 M. × loebneri 'Merrill' 1993 H6 white no 8 × 8 M. × loebneri 'Wildcat' 2012 H6 white no 4 × 3 M. 'Lois' 2012 H6 primrose yellow yes 12 × 8 M. 'Milky Way' 2002 H5 white/pale pink no 8 × 4 M. 'Pegasus' 2012 H6 white/purple no 6 × 6 M. salicifolia 'Wada's Memory' 1993 H6 white yes 12 × 8 M. 'Sayonara' 1993 H5 white/purple no 8 × 4 M. sieboldii 'Colossus' 2012 H6 white/red yes 8 × 8+ M. × soulangeana 'Brozzonii' 1993 H5 white/purple no 8 × 8 M. × soulangeana 'Pickard's Schmetterling' 2012 H5 white/purple no 8+ × 8 M. 'Spectrum' 2012 H6 pale pink/purple no 8 × 8 M. sprengeri var. diva 'Burncoose' 2012 H6 purple/white no 12 × 8 M. sprengeri var. diva 'Copeland Court' 2012 H6 bright pink no 8 × 8 M. sprengeri var. diva 'Eric Savill' 2012 H6 bright pink/pale pink no 12 × 8 M. 'Star Wars' 2002 H5 rose pink, double yes 8 × 4 M. stellata 'Centennial' 2012 H6 white/pink yes 2.5 × 4 M. stellata 'Jane Platt' 2012 H6 pale pink yes 2.5 × 4 M. stellata 'Royal Star' 2012 H6 white yes 4 × 4 M. 'Susan' 1993 H6 purple/pink yes 4 × 4 M. 'Sweetheart' 2012 H5 pink yes 6 × 4 M. wilsonii 1993 H6 white/crimson yes 8 × 8 M. 'Yellow Lantern' 2012 H6 pale yellow no 5 × 5
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Name Type Flower colour Dimensions h × w M. grandiflora 'Exmouth' http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1221 tree double white × 'Lennei' shrub purple/white × M. obovata tree cream × 'Rustica Rubra' shrub rose-pink × M. salicifolia tree white, fragrant × M. stellata shrub white × M. stellata 'Water Lily' shrub white ×
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