Magnolia plants have been around for centuries and have been a favourite of British gardeners for many years. With over 200 varieties there is plenty to choose from. Deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs produce colourful blooms in all shades of white, yellow, pink, red and purple.

It's not only their wonderful colour which makes magnolia so popular with gardeners. The flowers are very large and a magnolia in full bloom makes an amazing statement piece and focal point for any planting scheme.

Even the most inexperienced of gardeners can achieve great results with magnolia plants. They are very hardy, don't need too much maintenance, and keep their shape for years. They can grow to around 15 feet but can also be pruned to a more manageable height. They can even be successfully grown in large containers and make a great plant to bring colour to a patio.

It's no surprise our customers love magnolia. We always have a great selection available and at this time of the year the polytunnels on the nursery are bursting at the seams with wonderful magnolia plants. Here's five varieties that we think you'll love and that are ready to be planted right now.

Magnolia Soulangeana

If you're looking for a focal point this is the magnolia for you. A spreading deciduous tree magnolia soulangeana will grow to a height of 15 feet. It can be kept shorter but allowed to flourish this is an imposing and beautiful tree. In spring it bears massive tulip shaped flowers which are rose pink or sometimes white. It's not the fastest growing magnolia but it's certainly one of the most striking. It's fully hardy and the specimen you'll receive from us will be in three litre pot and already three to four feet in height.

Magnolia Fairy Cream

An evergreen magnolia fairy cream has lovely glossy green leaves. But it’s the flowers it produces which really make this plant stand out from the crowd. And will make a stunning addition to your garden. Fairy cream flowers in spring and summer and as you'd expect the blooms are large and creamy coloured. It's a very compact tree and will only grow to around eight feet. It's perfect for smaller gardens. The specimen you'll receive from us will already be six feet tall and will be shipped to you in a 15-litre pot.

Magnolia George Henry Kern

If you enjoy seeing your plants in flower, the George Henry Kern is a magnolia you'll enjoy. It has a long flowering period from spring to early summer and produces masses or rosy pink flowers. The blooms are very fragrant so this tree makes a lovely addition to a seating area with its thick summer aroma. Like all magnolias George Henry Kern is fully hardy and can be planted in either full sun or semi shade. It's a perfect plant for a container though if planted in the ground can reach around eight feet in height. If you buy this plant from us, you'll receive a specimen that is between three and four feet in height.

Magnolia Susan

One of the most popular varieties of magnolia, Susan is a really attractive plant. It flowers in spring and produces very large and very purple blooms. Susan is extremely versatile and can be anything from a container plant to a 15 feet high tree depending on how it's managed. Susan isn't a fast grower but is fully hardy and can be grown by anyone in the garden or on the patio. We supply Susan as a three-foot plant so you can decide whether you want a full-grown tree or a smaller specimen in a container.

Magnolia Stellata

It may be one of the lesser-known varieties of magnolia but Stellata is without doubt one of the most beautiful. It bears large white flowers which are extremely fragrant. It's not a big tree and will grow to between six and eight foot tall. It can be grown in full sun or semi shade and would make an excellent container plant for the patio. We'll send you a plant which is around four feet tall and growing in a 10-litre pot

At Direct Plants we love magnolia plants and you can see our full selection here.