Magnolia ‘Stellar Ruby’ – Banana Shrub Hybrid

Magnolia x figo ‘Stellar Ruby’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a–9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-15′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: 6′ for solid hedges; 12′ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Reddish Purple

Flower Size: 2-3″

Flowering Period: Late Spring through the season!

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: Yes, smells just like a banana popsicle!

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Sun or Part Shade. Foliage is darker in color with some shade or filtered sun in the afternoon

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5 (Moderately Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat

Description

A new and exciting reblooming Banana Shrub hybrid of Magnolia and Michelia figo, the banana scented purplish red flowers and deep green lush, tropical looking foliage of the Stellar Ruby Magnolia are sure to please. The flowers rebloom throughout summer into early fall providing season long beauty and sensory appeal in the landscape. The dense glossy leaves cover the 10 to 15 feet tall large shrub, or lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree. Ideal for use as a specimen in landscape borders and home foundation -plantings or in privacy screens and hedges.

Landscape & Garden Uses

The Stellar Ruby Magnolia can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a small tree that matures to about 15 feet tall and half as wide. It is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as an evergreen hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape borders. It will grow in either sun or shade, assuming a looser more open form when grown in a mostly shade environment. It is also useful in home foundation plantings to frame the corners or against an large, open wall. A fine addition to the fragrance or cottage garden. Make sure to plant this visual and sensory beauty where you can enjoy the fragrance of the flowers from up close!

Suggested Spacing: 6 feet apart for a solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The Stellar Ruby Magnolia prefers an acid, fertile, well drained soil with plenty of organic matter. It will grow well in either sun or shade, assuming a looser more open form when grown in a mostly shade environment. When growing in direct, full sun the leaves will be a lighter shade of green. Some filtered sun or dappled shade during the mid afternoon hours in summer produces deeper green leaves, which we think are more attractive.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Plant arrived rapidly in great condition and is doing very well. So far no blooms but looking forward to some next season——————————-Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG