Magnolia 'Susan' Tree

Magnolia 'Susan' produces fantastic tulip shaped, fragrant flowers that are a deep purple-pink/burgundy on the outside and white/soft pink internally. The purple flowers are tightly fluted in bud and opens up to around 15cm across and it is then that the colours really stands out. 'Susan' flowers in April-May, later than some Magnolia varieties, thus giving it a better chance at avoiding any frost damage.

This bushy, upright shrub or small Magnolia tree has mid-green glossy foliage. Given a well-drained soil in partial shade or full sun out of exposure, this dwarf purple Magnolia will grow to 3 x 2 metres in 20 years. One of the 'Little Girl' series of Magnolias, Magnolia ‘Susan’ has the RHS Award of Garden Merit and is an exceptionally pretty ornamental tree.

AKA Purple magnolia shrub, Magnolia' Susan'

• Common name: Purple Magnolia tree
• Height and spread in 20 years: 3 x 2 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer
• Flowers: Large tulip shaped purple flowers in spring
• Foliage: Dark-green leaves
• Soil: Avoid chalky soils and plant in a well-drained, moist site

Planting Advice for Magnolia Susan Trees

Our pot grown Purple Magnolia 'Susan' can be planted at any time of the year. Firstly, remove all weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help your Magnolia establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Gently remove the pot but do not try to loosen the roots of Magnolia trees before planting. They have a fleshy root system and can be quite fragile. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Make sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree.

For tree forms of Magnolia Susan, we recommend using a stake and tie kit and rabbit guard when planting, but these are not needed for the bush forms. The help and advice section has further information and videos.

Aftercare Advice for Purple Magnolia trees

If you’re planting Magnolia in spring or summer, water well for the first few months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. Magnolias do not cope well with dry soils so this is especially important. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Irrigation kits make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard.

Pruning Advice for Magnolia Susan trees

Purple Magnolia 'Susan' trees can be pruned into shape, but should not be heavily pruned as they can go into shock. Simply remove any damaged branches or any that are growing in an awkward position. If pruning to limit the overall size, stagger your pruning over a few years to alleviate the stress on your tree. Pruning for Purple Magnolia should be carried out in mid-summer to early autumn. Avoid pruning in late winter to early spring.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most under 1.5 metres in height) : £9.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £11.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £14.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet to kerbside (inc. mature Japanese Maples): 24.95 + vat

Mature trees, pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode not quantity. Starts from £48 + vat.

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process. Please note, we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 3 weeks of placing the order, unless stated otherwise. Due to a high volume of orders, current lead time is 3-5 weeks. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

For pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height), we group orders together by geographic area for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers about the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is on the product/basket page. Orders are despatched once all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height