Leonard Messel Magnolia, a Small Flowering Tree
This magnolia usually escapes frosts.
A relatively late-blooming magnolia, the hybrid 'Leonard Messel' magnolia provides a reliable, heavy show of two-tone pom-pom flowers in mid-spring, generally after the threat of frost has passed. With multiple trunks and a compact habit, this flowering tree suits front-yard gardens and other small spaces where it can be a highlight of spring.
Common name: 'Leonard Messel' magnolia
Botanical name: Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Flowers: In mid-spring, two-tone tepals (modified petals) open from furry gray-brown buds. The tepals are pink on the back and white on top. The overall flower resembles that of a star magnolia, with strap-like tepals and a loose posture.
Foliage: The deciduous leaves emerge after the flowers. Their shape is a long oval and their color, medium green. The fall foliage color is not remarkable.
Habit: 'Leonard Messel' magnolia is a small, deciduous flowering tree that grows between 10 and 20 feet tall. It has multiple trunks and a rounded crown 10 to 20 feet across.
Origin: Hybrid Magnolia x loebneri trees result from crossing Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata, the star magnolia. In the cultivar 'Leonard Messel', the parents are M. kobus and M. stellata 'Rosea'.
How to grow it: Site 'Leonard Messel' magnolia in full sun to part shade and rich soil with good drainage. It prefers even soil moisture. 'Leonard Messel' is less likely than many other deciduous magnolias to have its flowers damaged by frost, because it is a relatively late-blooming magnolia. However, siting it in a warmer microclimate of the garden (such as near a building) and avoiding frost pockets (such as at the bottom of a hill) can further ensure a good show. Because 'Leonard Messel' magnolia is naturally compact, it should not need pruning. Dead or damaged branches can be removed at any time. USDA Zones 5–9.
Image credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
