One of the first woody things I planted in my garden was a young specimen of Magnolia loebneri ‘Ballerina,’ one of the great Loebner hybrids. The plant was propagated and grown for more than a decade by my friend Dennis Mareb of Windy Hill Nursery in Gt. Barrington, MA, before he sold it to me, so between us Dennis and I have “parented” this beauty for more than 25 years. Today it’s taller than my house. Dennis recommended it because of the vulnerability of many other magnolias to late frost. ‘Ballerina’ is about 10 days later than some similar-looking varieties, meaning the weather is less like to take it from me before I’m through admiring it. I’ve never had its blooms lost to a cold snap. Good advice, as ever, from Dennis.
I had a Ballerina planted just recently and it has some flowers popped out. I also have a tulip magnolia and it does the same but from I understand both do their big blooming in the spring. Am I right?
Welcome, Luci. Yes, spring is prime bloom time, and in favorable years (I find usually when there’s plenty of moisture) you may get stray blooms at another time, but that’s not what’s intended. I got some on each magnolia this summer, for instance. See you soon again, I hope.