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Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire' (Bull bay 'Sweet Spire')
1 hour care
per year
per year
3m
Max height
Max height
1.2m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire'
Other names
Bull bay 'Sweet Spire', Southern magnolia 'Sweet Spire', Large-flowered magnolia 'Sweet Spire', Laurel magnolia 'Sweet Spire'
Genus
Magnolia Magnolia
Variety or Cultivar
'Sweet Spire' _ 'Sweet Spire' is a compact, columnar, evergreen tree with ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves, reddish-brown beneath, and large, fragrant, cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers from late spring or early summer to early autumn.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire' is: Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are fragrant.
Habit
Broadly columnar, Compact
Flower
White, Cream in Spring; Cream, White in Summer; White, Cream in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Capsid bug , Horse chestnut scale , Snails Capsid bug , Horse chestnut scale , Snails
Coral spot , Honey fungus Coral spot , Honey fungus
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1 in spring. Pruning group 13 if wall-trained.
Propagation methods
Budding, Grafting, Layering, Semi-hardwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire' (Bull bay 'Sweet Spire') will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 1.2m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, City, Architectural, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained, preferably neutral to acid soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates dry, alkaline soil. Dislikes pollution. Can be wall-trained.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire'
Other names
Bull bay 'Sweet Spire', Southern magnolia 'Sweet Spire', Large-flowered magnolia 'Sweet Spire', Laurel magnolia 'Sweet Spire'
Genus
Magnolia Magnolia
Variety or Cultivar
'Sweet Spire' _ 'Sweet Spire' is a compact, columnar, evergreen tree with ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves, reddish-brown beneath, and large, fragrant, cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers from late spring or early summer to early autumn.
Native to
Southeastern United States
Foliage
Evergreen
Fragrance
Flowers are fragrant.
Habit
Broadly columnar, Compact
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Colour
Flower
White, Cream in Spring; Cream, White in Summer; White, Cream in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Capsid bug , Horse chestnut scale , Snails
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1 in spring. Pruning group 13 if wall-trained.
Propagation methods
Budding, Grafting, Layering, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Magnolia grandiflora 'Sweet Spire' (Bull bay 'Sweet Spire') will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 1.2m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, City, Architectural, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained, preferably neutral to acid soil in sun or partial shade. Tolerates dry, alkaline soil. Dislikes pollution. Can be wall-trained.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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