Cameo Magnolia Tree

Magnolia soulangeana x lilliflora ‘Cameo’

Other Names: Cameo Tulip Tree

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-15′

Width at Maturity: 5-6′

Growth Habit / Form: Upright

Flower Color: Magenta

Flower Size: Large, 5″+ when fully open

Flowering Period: Early to Mid Spring with repeat in Summer

Flower Type: Semi-Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes, light

Foliage Color: Green to Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

The latest release from the New Zealand Magnolia Grove breeding program of Vance Hooper, ‘Cameo’ is one of if not the heaviest bloomers of any deciduous Tulip Magnolia we’ve ever grown. The spring and summer flower production keeps mature size down to around 12 to 15 feet tall and 6 feet wide, which makes it perfect selection for smaller garden spaces where its larger growing cousins just won’t fit. The flower itself is truly stunning, opening from deep magenta buds to 5-inch wide tulip-like flowers with petals having a brilliant magenta exterior and a clean white interior flushed with magenta veins. This one blooms at a very young age so you’ll be sure to have many flowers the first spring on the larger size trees we grow. A truly spectacular small feature tree near patios, decks, porches and other outdoor living spaces where the beautiful flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed from close up.

Landscape & Garden Uses

With an upright habit and rounded form 12 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide, the Cameo Magnolia is ideal for use as a specimen shrub or small tree in sunny landscape and woodland borders. Also an excellent corner plant or against a large open wall in home foundation plantings. Can also be grown in large pots, planters and containers of 18 inches or more in rim diameter. Excellent near patios, decks and porches and a fine addition to purple or red theme gardens, fragrance gardens, cut flower gardens and cottage gardens.

Growing Preferences

The Cameo Magnolia is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained acidic soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. She prefers full sun for best flowering, however will handle some partial shade. In the deep South, some shade during the hottest mid-afternoon hours of summer will be appreciated. Avoid constantly soggy or wet soils. In alkaline soils, apply soil sulfur and/or chelated iron to increase acidity. Pruning usually isn’t necessary, however stray or damaged branches can be pruned immediately after flowering in spring. Feed after flowering in spring with a mild organic plant food or a well-balanced shrub and tree food containing iron or sulfur.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, feed and water Tulip-type Magnolia trees.

How To Plant & Care For Tulip & Star Magnolias

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Thank you everyone at Wilson Brothers. The garden looks great, thanks to all of you and your great commitment.
The last order AB127467 for a Dogwood and Magnolia came in perfectly. The Dogwood 7 gal was actually vertically upside down in the UPS store, but had been stapled, wrapped and sealed perfectly, as was also the Magnolia, both so generous and perfect in every way. Not a drop of dirt, not a missing bud or leaf. It was my lucky day.
Happy Holidays to all of you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS———————————————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG Merry Christmas!!

5 gallon Cameo Magnolia arrived in pristine condition. Tall, healthy and lush with foliage, a beautiful specimen. Planted the next day and appears to be thriving. Quite confident it will survive our zone 6a winter with some mulch around base and occasional watering. Now hopefully looking forward to spring flowering. Wilson Bros. Gardens, my favorite online nursery, always reliable and hands down, simply the best!———————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG