Magnolia grandiflora

I have been growing a Magnolia grandiflora for about 7/8 years and, although it produces loads of lovely shiny green leaves, it has never flowered. Can anyone guess at what I am doing wrong or, maybe, not doing at all. I so want to see this lovely shrub flower and would appreciate some helpful suggestions.

Move to Florida!.....no sorry I couldn't resist....we gardeners are always trying to grow something way out of their comfort zone and sometimes we get away with it and sometimes we don't.....if it is lush and healthy you are doing ok....maybe a bit of potash in the spring may help and it might still be a young tree.....they are huge beautiful trees in their natural state.....good luck!:)

Hi Lebran, how old is the Magnolia, if still young, it is one of the larger leaf type and should have creamy/white flowers, then it might not be mature enough, but after 7 years, cant see that being a prob, they do like an acidic soil, dapple sun/shade and no morning sun in the winter as in our climate, the frost can get the flower buds and then the morning sun causes them to rot away, you also need to keep it away from North or East winds as this spoils the flower buds forming, they need staking for the first few years to prevent the roots from being moved about in winter wind rocking, and also like lots of peat/leaf mould added to soil and each April give a top dressing of this to help keep the roots cool and moisture in, try giving a feed with plant feed around the root area, specially for Azalias/ Rhododendrons and Magnolias, acid soil plant food. hope this helps you out some, good luck, Weenel.

Hi darling Wee Nell...you mean you can grow the grandiflora in Scotland too? Geez well I learn more every day....I thought they only flowered in the Tropics.

Hi Chrissy, good to be back here again, had time off for the best part of 2 weeks, trying to get back on track again, gardening makes me feel better and safe, Yes we can grow almost all magnolias/ rhodo, azalias, cameleas etc hear in good old Scotland, you just have to pick the right spot for some, sheltered from wind/frost etc, but once you understand what they need, we get them growing happy and flowering well, we have a very acidic soil here on the west coast of Scoltland, also sandy so we have to add all the peat/leaf mold, but an old Rhodo producer/grower informed me years ago that if something grows well in Newzealand, then it will grow for me in Scotland and he was right about most things, the seas cold wind does my head in as it strips the leaves off before you can say Jack Flash, you just learn to work things out for protection, great to hear from you again, be good. WeeNel.