Magnolias, growing tips

Early and late magnolias

The earliest magnolia varieties bloom during March and April, depending on the weather and spring temperatures, and their leaves develop after the flowers have bloomed. In contrast, the later varieties (which are still in bud in the spring) have their flowers blooming at the same time as the leaves. The later magnolias bloom in summer, during July and August.

Large and small magnolias

The smallest varieties of magnolias are between 2m and 2.5m tall, while the largest varieties can reach between 10 and 15m tall.

Unlike small-flowered magnolias, large-flowered magnolias are generally vigorous magnolias.

Growing conditions for magnolias

Magnolias are not difficult. There is no particular condition to respect when it comes to the nature of the soil, except that it is necessary to avoid too humid situations, with stagnant water. The species Magnolia kobus tolerates even limestone soils.

Pruning magnolias

Pruning magnolias is not mandatory, but it is possible to do one to clear and aerate the interior of the crown.

The origins of magnolias

Most magnolias come from China but some come from elsewhere, such as North America. The majority come from cold regions, although there are a few exceptions from warmer climates.

Diseases and pests of magnolias

Magnolias are not susceptible to diseases, nor to pests such as aphids or caterpillars. On the other hand, slugs can be very fond of flowers and leaves.

Propagation and varieties of spring magnolias

New varieties of magnolias are obtained from a selection of seeds. All magnolias have the possibility to hybridize with each other.

The different varieties can be distinguished by the color of their flowers which can go from pure white to very dark red.

• Black Tulip' : one of the darkest magnolias;
• Apollo' : pinkish purple flowers;
• Butterfly' : yellow flowers in April/May;
• Magnolia stellata chrysanthemiflora: small magnolia with light pink flowers with more than 40 petals, looking like chrysanthemums.

The mimosas

The arrival of mimosas in Europe

Mimosas were introduced in Europe, at the end of the 18th century, by the Anglo-Saxon explorer James COOK, who brought them back from Australia.

Mimosas were then naturalized in the south east of France, then in Brittany and in the south of England.

The cultivation area of the mimosa

The mimosa can be grown in the open ground, provided that the temperature does not fall below -10°C. Everywhere else, it can be grown in pots, as long as you have an unheated veranda, a cold greenhouse or a winter garden.

In the Paris region, in the gardens within the city walls, in the center of Paris, it is possible to consider growing a mimosa in the ground, if the exposure is full south and full sun, against a wall, in an urban area sheltered from the north wind. It should be noted that the hardiness of the mimosa is the same as that of the oleander.

Choosing a pot

The repotting of the mimosa is done in stages, from the small pot to the medium one, then to the large one. Under no circumstances should you repot your shrub directly into a large pot. This process is spread over 3 to 5 years.

Water requirements of the mimosa

The mimosa in a pot is very easy to grow, but it does not tolerate a lack of water. The same cannot be said for the mimosa in the ground. The mimosa behaves, then, like all plants that grow in dry soil. They can be found along roadsides, where they grow spontaneously, without watering or pruning.

How to prune the mimosa?

Grown in the ground, the mimosa is pruned only once a year, after flowering. There is no need to hoe, fertilize or treat it.

Grown in a pot, a soft pruning is enough. It consists in removing the faded flowers and keeping a harmonious ball shape.

The diversity of mimosas

The diversity of the mimosa's leaves is worth taking an interest in, on the one hand because it offers different shades of gray, silver, purple or green, and on the other hand, because 10 months out of 12, we only enjoy the foliage.

The flowerings, all spectacular, have multiple tones of yellow, white or orange, and very nuanced perfumes. Depending on the variety, we can have mimosas in bloom almost all year long (in summer, in autumn or in winter).

The forms are also diverse and varied: ground cover, small shrubs or large trees (30 meters high in Australia; 15 meters in Europe). Mimosas can therefore be used as an isolated subject, integrated into a bed or within a hedge, especially since they grow very quickly (they can triple in size every year).

Why graft mimosas ?

• To support all types of soil (clay, limestone...);
• To have a flowering from the first year;
• to avoid having invasive shoots.

They are grafted on mimosas of the four seasons because the latter support limestone, do not suckers, and have a root system not very extensive, which allows their installation against a wall.

Birch, Prunus avium : botanical card

Botanical card dedicated to the wild cherry tree, Prunus avium

The wild cherry tree is found everywhere in France, but it is rare to find it in the Landes and in the Mediterranean region. On the other hand, the departments with the highest population of wild cherry are located in the northeast and north of the country.

Description of the cherry tree

The cherry tree is a tree that can live 120 years or more. Its maximum height is 20 to 25 meters, its foliage is medium dense, deciduous, and takes on a bright red hue in the fall.

The flowers of the cherry tree are both male and female. Their pollination is done by insects, while the seeds are dispersed by animals, especially birds.

Note: the cherry is a species of full light, fast growing.

Yellow birch enemies

Yellow birch is susceptible to a number of enemies, including a microscopic fungus, cylindrosporium, which causes premature leaf drop in early summer following a cool, rainy spring.

Another enemy of the cherry tree: the black aphid. It dries out the young shoots and shrivels the leaves.

The deer, fond of its shoots, is responsible for wounds on the trunk and branches, due to its repeated rubbing.

A disease can also be observed: the 'green vein'. It is an anomaly linked to the internal tensions of the wood. It is characterized by a particular coloration which gives its name to this defect.

The qualities of cherry wood

Cherry is a fine-grained wood of medium hardness, whose color varies naturally from light honey to reddish brown.

It can be worked well at all levels of processing: sawing, slicing, planing.

Nevertheless, its wood is not very durable and sensitive to insects and fungi, which confines it to inferior uses.

Cherry is mainly sought after for furniture manufacturing: industrial veneer or solid furniture.

It is also a good firewood.

Advice on growing birch

Yellow birch is a species that does not fear the cold in plains and hills. However, it is sensitive to spring frosts which destroy its flowers.

It appreciates full light and develops well on deep, aerated soils, regularly supplied with water, but not excessively.

Field elm and diffuse elm : botanical card

Botanical sheet of the field elm and the diffuse elm

The field elm (Ulmus minor), quite common, and the diffuse elm (Ulmus laevis), not very widespread, are also called elm. They are among the typical species of alluvial valleys and, more locally, of hedgerows and the coastal edge.

Description of the elm

The elm is a 20 to 25 meters high tree, with a fan-shaped top and powerful ascending branches. Its longevity is exceptional, about 3 centuries.

The oval leaves are small and asymmetrical at the base. They are arranged on the same plane, on the branches, forming a dense cover of green color, then golden yellow in the fall.

The flowers of the elm are hermaphroditic, of dark pink color and appear early, before the foliage. They are agglomerated in bunches, at the end of the branches. Once hatched, they quickly evolve into clusters of winged seeds.

The great enemy of the elm

Graphiosis (Dutch elm disease): this is a lower pathogenic fungus carried by small insects, the elm bark beetle, which lay eggs under the bark. Once established, the fungus clogs the sap-carrying vessels and the infested tree dies by wilting.

This disease, which has been rampant since 1976, poses a real threat to the survival of the species. It particularly affects the tallest trees.

The qualities of elm wood

Elm is an excellent wood, hard, heavy, dense and durable, with a reddish brown heartwood.

It has a wide range of uses because of its aesthetic aspect, very figured (it is sought after for furniture, stairs, frames and floors) and its strength appreciated in carpentry and for the construction of piles.

Planting advice

If you wish to have an elm in your garden as an ornamental tree, plant it in the fall to encourage its rooting before winter. Mulching is recommended to preserve soil moisture in summer and protect the roots from the cold in winter.

Also, give it a full sun exposure.

Note: there are horticultural varieties, very elegant and limited in development.

Planting a tree in the garden

Planting a tree reintroduces us to the rhythm of nature: that of the seasons with the blossoming, the fall colors, the fall of its leaves; that of the years because it takes its time to establish itself, its roots growing underground almost as much as its branches in the air: that's how much energy it needs!

Not all trees grow at the same speed. But be aware that the slowest-growing ones usually last the longest. Trees give you a bonus for patience!

Many tree species have more to offer than just shade. Some bloom spectacularly, such as cherry blossoms, evergreen magnolias, the silk tree. The flowers are even more spectacular when they appear before the leaves, as in the case of the paulownia, the purple plum tree or the Judas tree. Others bloom very early for the willows and their catkins, the Byzantine hazelnut tree or the Persian parrotia. They produce fruit in the fall like the clerodendrons with their small light blue pears with purple collars or the honey locust with its contorted mahogany pods. Some of these fruits remain on the branches well into the winter, such as the tiny apples of the ornamental apple trees or the orange or yellow berries of the mountain ash. On the other hand, some fruits are not desired, such as the horse chestnuts that must be picked up when they fall to the ground. The red chestnut tree has the advantage of producing very few fruits, and that's not bad!

But it's in the autumn finery that the trees put the package to surprise us: the yellow, the red, the shades of fire ... Nothing is too intense to make the beautiful before the fall of leaves. The list of the most beautiful fall colors is hard to determine. However, liquidambar, ginkgo, maple and American red oak are among the most spectacular!

Some species or varieties, smaller than others, allow you to enjoy this country shade regardless of the size of your garden. Some, such as the Judas tree, the Bohemian olive tree or the soap tree, hardly exceed 5 to 6 m in height and 3 to 4 m in width.

Our tip for choosing your tree

Prefer deciduous trees whose shade disappears when the leaves fall, in autumn, when they are no longer needed... Especially near the house, do not darken the interior in winter.

Wild pear tree, Pyrus pyraster : botanical card

Botanical sheet about wild pear tree, Pyrus pyraster

Location of the wild pear tree

The wild pear tree is a fruit tree present throughout France, but it is rare to find it in the north and in the Mediterranean region.

Attention: it can be confused with the heart-leaved pear tree, Pyrus cordata, a shrub from 3 to 8 meters high, whose frugality allows it to colonize the most ungrateful environments.

Description of the wild pear tree

The Pyrus pyraster is a tree with slow and limited growth. Indeed its cyme, in the shape of pyramid, rarely exceeds a height of 11 to 15 meters.

It is known for its exceptional longevity, commonly exceeding 300 years.

The foliage of the wild pear tree is rather dense. Its branches carry numerous small oval and elongated leaves and its white and very early (April) flowers are hermaphroditic. The small, almost round pears they produce are acrid and astringent.

Note: the wild pear tree is the origin of most of the fruit varieties of pears currently cultivated. It is still used as a rootstock by nurserymen.

The diseases of the wild pear tree

Be careful, the wild pear tree is sensitive to various diseases:

• rots which settle in the wounds which can be caused to its foot;
• to fire blight ;
• torso fiber (uniform inclination of the vessels and fibers of the wood in relation to the axis of the tree), a genetic defect resulting in a "screwed" wood, unsuitable for sawing and thus for noble uses (carpentry, joinery, slicing...).

The uses of wild pear wood

The wild pear tree has a homogeneous wood, very hard, of a generally reddish brown color. Its grain, of a great fineness and an exceptional polish, directs its use towards quality products such as violin making, slicing for top-of-the-range veneers, marquetry, turning, sculpture or engraving.

In rural crafts, many objects from the past still testify to its use due to its remarkable resistance: pulleys, stretchers, levers, grooved wheels, pulleys...

Do you want to plant a wild pear tree?

The wild pear tree appreciates acid to neutral, compact, light and drained soils. It is a heliophilic species; it therefore needs a sunny or, failing that, a semi-shady exposure.