Magnolia ‘Kay Parris’ Live Plant – 2-3 ft Tall, 3 Gallon Pot, Outdoor Tree

Overview

Introducing the exquisite Magnolia Kay Parris live plant, a magnificent evergreen tree that brings year-round beauty to any garden. Known for its elegant, dark green foliage with a distinctive bronze-brown underside, this particular magnolia cultivar is a true showstopper. Originating from Australia, the ‘Kay Parris’ variety is celebrated for its compact, upright growth habit, making it an excellent choice for a variety of landscape applications, from a sophisticated specimen tree to an attractive screening plant. Its most captivating feature, however, is the abundance of large, fragrant, cup-shaped white flowers that emerge in mid-spring, providing a stunning visual and aromatic display. This evergreen Magnolia plant thrives in a range of climates, offering resilience and consistent appeal. It’s an ideal selection for those looking to add a touch of classic charm and enduring beauty to their outdoor space.

The Magnolia Kay Parris live plant is a hybrid of Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia virginiana, inheriting the best qualities of both parents – the robust evergreen nature and the fragrant, beautiful blooms. This makes it a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers alike. With its relatively low maintenance requirements and impressive visual impact, it’s a plant that delivers significant value and joy. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, the ‘Kay Parris’ will prove to be a rewarding addition, transforming your garden into a serene and fragrant sanctuary.

Key Benefits

The Magnolia Kay Parris live plant offers a wealth of benefits that make it a standout choice for any landscape:

• Stunning Floral Display: Enjoy an abundance of large, creamy white, cup-shaped flowers that bloom profusely in mid-spring. These exquisite blossoms are not only visually appealing but also emit a delightful, sweet fragrance that can perfume your entire garden.
• Evergreen Foliage: Unlike deciduous magnolias, the ‘Kay Parris’ retains its beautiful, glossy dark green leaves throughout the year, providing continuous visual interest and structure to your garden even in winter. The unique bronze-brown undersides of the leaves add an extra layer of textural appeal.
• Compact and Upright Growth: This variety is known for its strong, columnar growth habit, reaching a mature height of 20-30 feet with a spread of 10-15 feet. This makes it suitable for smaller gardens or as a specimen tree where space might be a consideration, without sacrificing its majestic presence.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: The Kay Parris Magnolia tree can be used in numerous ways, including as a striking focal point, an elegant avenue planting, a privacy screen, or even in larger containers on patios. Its refined form complements both formal and informal garden designs.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, the evergreen Magnolia plant is quite resilient and requires minimal care. It is relatively drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, making it a hassle-free addition for busy gardeners.
• Attracts Pollinators: The fragrant flowers are a magnet for bees and other beneficial pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity and health of your garden ecosystem.
• Year-Round Appeal: From its glossy evergreen leaves to its spectacular spring blooms and attractive seed pods in fall, the ‘Kay Parris’ offers consistent beauty through all four seasons, making it a valuable investment for lasting garden enjoyment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential to ensure your Magnolia Kay Parris live plant thrives and reaches its full potential. This magnificent tree prefers a location with full sun to light shade, meaning it should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal flowering and growth. While it tolerates some partial shade, too much shade can reduce the number of blooms. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid environments. The ‘Kay Parris’ is adaptable to various soil types but performs best in rich, fertile, slightly acidic to neutral soil that is well-draining. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain too much moisture, as this can lead to root rot. Amending the soil with organic matter like compost before planting will significantly improve soil structure and fertility.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is key, especially during the first few years after planting. Water deeply and regularly, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the Kay Parris Magnolia tree becomes more drought-tolerant, but supplemental watering during prolonged dry spells will benefit its health and vigor. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can burn the roots. Pruning is generally minimal, focused on removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain its elegant form. The ‘Kay Parris’ is hardy in USDA zones 7-10, tolerating temperatures down to 0°F (-18°C). Protecting young plants from harsh winter winds can be beneficial in the colder parts of its range. Understanding appropriate Magnolia tree care ensures a healthy and vibrant specimen for years to come.

Size & Details

This offering is for a vibrant Magnolia Kay Parris live plant, typically measuring 2-3 feet tall from the soil line. It is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a robust root system ready for planting in your garden. While the plant is initially grown in a 1-gallon pot for shipping efficiency, it is carefully selected to reflect the vigor and maturity expected of a 3-gallon specimen. The ‘Kay Parris’ is a relatively fast-growing magnolia, capable of adding 1-2 feet of height per year under ideal conditions. Its mature size can reach 20-30 feet tall with a spread of 10-15 feet, forming an attractive, dense, and upright evergreen tree. Expect the first fragrant white flowers to appear in mid-spring, typically within 1-2 years after planting, establishing its presence as a cherished garden feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Magnolia Kay Parris live plant typically reaches a mature height of 20-30 feet with a spread of 10-15 feet, making it a substantial yet manageable evergreen tree for most landscapes.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This Kay Parris Magnolia tree is shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a well-developed root system for successful transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The evergreen Magnolia plant is an outdoor tree, best suited for planting directly in the ground where it can reach its full majestic potential. It is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This magnolia thrives in environments with full sun to light shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flowering.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Once established, the ‘Kay Parris’ is considered relatively low maintenance. It requires consistent watering during its establishment phase but becomes quite resilient to drought and pests afterwards, making Magnolia tree care straightforward.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Magnolia Kay Parris live plant will arrive carefully packaged, healthy, and ready for planting, with its root ball intact within the nursery pot.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: You can typically expect the first fragrant white flowers to appear in mid-spring, usually within 1-2 years after planting, as the tree establishes itself in its new location.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Kay Parris’ is hardy in USDA zones 7-10, meaning it can tolerate winter temperatures down to 0°F (-18°C). Protection for young plants may be beneficial in the colder parts of its hardiness range.
• Q: What is the best time to plant this magnolia? A: The ideal time to plant your fragrant white Magnolia is in spring or early fall, allowing the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.