Magnolia x ‘Elizabeth’ – Yellow Magnolia

The first precocious yellow-flowering magnolia. The term “precocious” refers to plants that flower before they leaf out—a quality that’s highly valued, especially in magnolias, because of the elegant display made by the flowers on bare branches. ‘Elizabeth’ is the perfect balance between its parents. The color of its creamy-yellow flowers comes from the deep yellow flowers of the native cucumber tree and the ivory ones of the Yulan magnolia (M. denudata), a Chinese species. Its later bloom time, inherited from the cucumber tree, helps it avoid damage from frost and cold snaps; its precocious habit is from the Yulan. Fragrant flowers bloom about a week after the saucer magnolias and two or three weeks after the star magnolias.