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I didn't grow Magnolia figo in the garden and I have long wanted to, so the arrival of a dark flowered form in garden centres gave me a good opportunity to correct the deficiency.
I'm a little worried that it won't be hardy but it was bred in North Carolina and said to be selected for hardiness. Raised by Thomas Patrick McCracken in Zebulon, North Carolina it is protected by patent US PP29,778 P2. The patent says: "A new cultivar of Magnolia named ' Stellar Ruby ' that is characterized by its a very narrow and dense pyramidal growth habit , its floriferous blooming habit , its flowers that are purple in color and fragrant , its fast plant growth habit , its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7 , and its ability to bloom on plants that are young in age . 'Stellar Ruby' originated from a cross made in 2004 between an unnamed and unpatented plant of Magnolia figo var. crassipes as the female parent and an unnamed and unpatented plant of Magnolia figo var. skinneriana as the male parent. 'Stellar Ruby' was selected as a single unique plant in 2010 from amongst the resulting seedlings." Protected by patent in Europe (PBR EU 20221658), the description on Plantipp says: "Attention to all Magnolia lovers: there’s a new Magnolia ready to steal the show in any landscape design. Magnolia Stellar Ruby stands out with her narrow, upright, pyramidal growth habit: making her well-suited for smaller spaces. Her healthy, glossy green foliage is very dense and will be covered with ruby-coloured flowers from spring to early summer. In late summer, Stellar Ruby will surprise with another round of fragrant blooms. Stellar Ruby is at her best in full or partial sun and will grow up to 4 m high and 1.5 m wide after ten years. This evergreen Magnolia is impressively hardy as well: up to -15 ºC." |
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| 3rd December 2025 | ||