A few weeks ago, the weather began a pattern in Seattle which has greatly prolonged the blooming season of March's plant of the month. Sunshine, then cold, and the recent warm temperatures have caused Magnolias all over the city to bloom constantly for almost a month now, and they're still just coming into a full bloom.
Magnolia x 'Jane' is a small multi-stemmed tree that will reach about 10' to 12' tall and 5'-8' wide with age. It's one of a series of hybrid magnolias named by the national arboretum known as the 'Girls' or 'Little Girls' series. 'Jane' and her sisters in the series (Ann, Betty, Judy, Pinkie, Randy, Ricki and Susan) all vary in height, structure and flower, but they all flower about 2 weeks later than the regular Magnolia soulangeanas. This slightly later blooming period usually equates to sometime around late March in Seattle. Flowering a little later is an important quality at the edge of their range, as it allows the 'Girls' to avoid damage from late frosts. 'Jane' and the 'Girls' all prefer full sun to part shade and moist, fertile soil with lots of organic matter, but they can tolerate a wide range of garden soils. They are cold hardy to USDA Zone 5 and can withstand temperature down to 10 to 20 degrees below zero.
'Jane' is a very prunable multi-stemmed small tree or shrub that fits nicely into a medium-sized urban garden. Her profusion of upright, tulip-shaped, fragrant flowers are reddish purple on the outside and white on the inside, and they flower before the tree comes into leaf in the spring. 'Jane' is great as a focal point in a planting bed or planted where it can stand out against the solid backdrop of a wall.
If you haven't taken notice yet, keep your eyes open for Magnolias all over the city. They're one of the best flowering shows of the season, and they're on display now! And if you're looking to add one to your own garden check out 'Jane' and the 'Girls'.
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