Magnolia grandiflora "Variegated Taylor's"

Magnolia grandiflora "Variegated Taylor's" is a stunning splashed variegated selection of Southern Magnolia.  The flowers are large (8-10"), ivory white, fragrant and not produced in large numbers.  A bit shy flowering. The original mutation was found at Taylor's Nursery in Raleigh, NC over 50 years ago and has rarely been propagated.  Like all variegated Magnolia grandiflora (there are several different clones around.  i can think of at least 3 or 4 and we will keep source with name on this and future releases) they will produce solid green branches at times.  These MUST be removed promptly or they will outgrow the variegated portions of the plant.  I am not a fan of pruned Southern Magnolias but in this case, that is probably the best thing to do.  Cut it back hard every 2-3 years and produce a large bush.  If you let it become a tree, it becomes very difficult to remove green portions.   But if you do let this happen (we've done it 2 times now) all is not lost.  Cut the entire plant back to 3-4' - even if tree is 40' or taller.   It will produce new buds out of the  trunk and start growing again and variegation will return in abundance.  It might looks scary to cut a tree that hard (no leaves need be left on the stump)  - just cut back in late winter right before bud break.  This is not a good tree for a 'Hand's off gardening approach".  The effort of removing green will be rewarded with a truly unbelievable specimen "shrub"  in your garden!  We only have 3 available this year.  Obtaining extremely good variegated scionwood for grafting isn't easy.  We only select the best colored branches.  The odd color of plants pictured are due to rust in our water.  It was a temporary issue and has been corrected, but the leaves will look odd colored.  Plants are fine and new growth in the spring will be bright green and bright ivory yellow..

• HARDINESS: 7-9
• EXPOSURE:  sun
• SIZE:   best pruned to a large shrub
• SHIPPING SIZE:  1/2 gallon container.  10-15" plant.