The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Maxine Merrill magnolia

Family: Magnoliaceae (magnolia family)

Distribution: hybrid: Savage hybrid

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: This is a deciduous large shrub or small broadly conical tree growing 26-30 ft. tall with a spread of 16-23 ft. It has a funnel-shaped habit and can be multi-stemmed. The delicate oval leaves first emerge copper-colored and then turn dark green over the course of the year. In autumn, the foliage changes to bright orange. The leaves appear after the flowers, which bloom in April and May. The bright yellow cupped flowers have a pleasant citrus scent. This magnolia is known for particularly hardy and long-lasting flowers, even in bad weather, as well as a bloom period that is generally ahead of other cultivated species. It is suitable for smaller gardens due to its upright growth.