Magnolia 'Sunsation'

M. 'Woodsman' x M. 'Elizabeth'. The flowers are 6” across and are vibrant golden yellow with a purple blush. Said to bloom late in the season. Avoiding late frosts.

This fabulous selection is a late-bloomer, which is great news for gardeners with late-frosts! When it opens it does makes a wonderful entrance, with large, 7", tulip-shaped blooms in a rich blend of pink, apricot and gold; almost like a sunrise! The golden-yellow flowers feature a lovely touch of pink at their base that runs up the outside center of the petal giving it an appealing, striped effect. Large bright-green leaves follow the blossoms on this stunning 20-30' tree. S/M

Attention cold climate gardeners: This yellow Magnolia from August Kerr (hybrid of M. 'Woodsman' and 'Elizabeth') blooms the very end of April into mid May, so there is less danger from being frostbitten. Lovely 6-7" lemon yellow blossoms flushed with pink are seductive. It will develop a pyramidal shape and become 25-30' tall. 2-3' plants

This selection is a late bloomer, but makes a theatrical entrance, with blooms in a rich blend of colors. The deep-yellow flowers with a blush of purple at their base, grow to 7 inches wide, with the handsome leaves soon to follow.

Sunsation makes a late but theatrical entrance. Her blooms are a rich blend of colors. The deep gold flowers with a blush of chartreuse at their base grow to 7" wide. The handsome leaves soon follow.

During the 2011 Magnolia Society meeting in Rhode Island, a majority of ladies in the crowd raved about this abundant bloomer with its rosy-accented flowers. It's a wonderful selection due to the warm color tones, blooming later than any of the other yellows and before the emergent leaves. August Kehr, the hybridizer, would have never accepted much credit for this plant he created, but he deserves all our thanks for his exceptional work, including this plant. Interesting story: On the way to see Augie from Raleigh, NC Pat McCracken and Mark Krautmann decided to accept August's invitation to name all of his (at that time, only numbered) superior yellows. Before we got to Hendersonville, where he and his wife lived, we came up with Stellar Acclaim, Sunsation, Solar Eclipse, Hot Flash, and Sunspire. Augie was too modest to name his own "children".

One of August Kehr's hybrids; its parentage is 'Woodsman' x 'Elizabeth.' What makes this yellow particularly special for us is a moderate purple at the base of the soft canary yellow tepals. In bud the effect is stripey. When open the contrast of the colors catches one's eye and holds the attention of the onlooker. A gorgeous medium sized Magnolia.

Large 7" yellow flowers with rose pink blush at base. Deciduous, USDA zones 5-8