Where to plant magnolia?

[goldenshoes]

I moved to a new house earlier this year and have spent a lot of time prepping the garden ready for next year. I am very excited!

I'm aiming for a cottage garden feel and I would love to put a small magnolia next to my front door. I've seen advice saying to plant the large grandiflora varieties up to 50 ft away from your house, but I can't find any specific info on some of the smaller species I'm looking at. I'm looking at either a Soulangeana 'Satifaction' or a 'Jane' which is a dwarf variety, and both of these will grow to 2 - 2.5 m.

I'd be pushing it to plant any further than 1.5 m (but would probably be more like 1 m ) away from the house, or would I be better off growing it in a large pot?

Any magnolia experts on here who can shatter help me realise my magnolia dreams?

Only tip I can give you is to grow it in a sheltered area. Without fail, the one I grew up with got hit by the late frost each year which meant the flowers turned brown.

@TaraR2020 Thank you! I've been looking at later flowering varieties for this reason!

I'm in Scotland and quite high up so we can get a lot of snow, but if it's a small tree I can cover it in fleece to protect it. That's the plan anyway. By the door is the perfect spot though - sheltered but south facing.

I hope you find one right for the spot, I have an incredibly romantic and idyllic image on opening your door to a beautiful magnolia with incredible scenery in the background!

The RHS website gives some very useful advice on planting trees near buildings
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=225

It lists magnolia as a low water demand tree, and it's influence is unlikely to extend more than half the tree’s height. There are other factors to consider such as soil type - especially heavy clay soil, but it states that most trees never cause problems for buildings.

In a previous house where I wanted to plant a dwarf tree (not a magnolia, but similar in size), I contacted my household insurance company to ask their advice about planting distances from the house. They said they had no concerns about distances of dwarf trees!

I have a Stellata in a large pot by my front door ( windy area) and it's been there for years. Not sure how many, it was inherited with the house, ( we've been here 6 years and it was big when we came) but it does really well every year. It obviously doesn't mind some root restriction.

Thanks all

I purchased a huge ceramic pot to plant my Magnolia 'Jane' when it arrives. I might plant it in the ground eventually, but at least this means I can move it to another spot if it get's too cold over winter (first winter here).

I also couldn't resist a 'Black Tulip', it's the one I really wanted but I'll plant that where it has more space and can grow as tall as it likes!