Plant of the Week: Magnolia '˜Star Wars'
The film hits the big screen again; the flower takes centre stage in the garden.
This is Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ whose huge fragrant pink blooms (anything up to 12ins across) put most others in the shade in early spring.
It’s a tree happy to live in most soils but prefers one that is moist yet well-drained.
It also appreciates a bit of shelter from the worst of winter. Expect a mature specimen to reach 30ft in height. If it needs pruning, do the job in mid-summer when the tree is in full leaf.