Plant Database
Leonard Messel Magnolia
Magnolia loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Magnolia loebneri 'Leonard Messel' is a stunning, small deciduous tree prized for its profuse, star-shaped, bi-colored spring flowers and compact, rounded form. A hybrid of Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata 'Rosea', this vigorous tree produces abundant, lightly fragrant, 4-6 inch wide flowers in early spring, before the leaves emerge. Each bloom features 10-15 narrow, strap-like petals that are a rich, deep pinkish-purple on the outside and a soft, pale pink to white on the inside, creating a striking, two-toned, waterlily-like effect. The deep pink-purple flower buds are equally ornamental. The broad, medium-green leaves follow the flowers, turning yellow-bronze in fall before dropping. With its compact, multi-stemmed, rounded habit, exceptional hardiness, and reliable early bloom, it is an outstanding choice for a specimen tree in small gardens, courtyard plantings, foundation plantings, or as an accent in mixed borders.