Magnolia x soulangiana 'Cupcake' Cupcake Saucer Magnolia1
Edward F. Gilman2
Introduction
Young Japanese or saucer magnolia are distinctly upright, becoming more oval, then round by 10 years of age (Fig. 1). Blooms open in late winter in the southern part of its range to early spring in the northern part of its range before the leaves emerge. Flowers are large, shaded in light pink on the outside of the petals, white on the inside creating a spectacular flower display. The flower buds may look their best just before they open. A tree at this stage full of opening blooms looks like it is filled with lighted candles. However, a late frost can often ruin the flowers in all areas where it is grown. In warmer climates, the late-flowering selections avoid frost damage but some are less showy than the early-flowered forms, which blossom when little else is in flower.
General Information
Scientific name: Magnolia x soulangiana 'Cupcake'
Pronunciation: mag-NO-lee-uh x soo-lan-jee-AY-nuh
Figure 1.
'Cupcake' saucer magnolia
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Common name(s): 'Cupcake' saucer magnolia
Family: Magnoliaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 9A (Fig. 2)
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: near a deck or patio; container or above-ground planter; espalier
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 20 to 25 feet
Spread: 15 to 25 feet
Plant habit: upright; round
Plant density: open
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: undulate
Leaf shape: obovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: deciduous
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: yellow
Fall characteristic: showy
Flower
Flower color: pink
Flower characteristic: spring flowering; winter flowering
Fruit
Figure 3.
Flower of 'Cupcake' saucer magnolia
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Fruit shape: irregular
Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches
Fruit cover: dry or hard
Fruit color: red
Fruit characteristic: rarely fruits
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: no thorns; typically multi-trunked or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: brown
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic;
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
The tree is best used as a specimen in a sunny spot where it can develop a symmetrical crown. It develops an open canopy but flowers fine in a partially shaded spot. It can be pruned up if planted close to a walk or patio to allow for pedestrian clearance but probably looks its best when branches are left to droop to the ground. The light gray bark shows off nicely, particularly during the winter when the tree is bare.
Transplant in the spring, just before growth begins, and use balled and burlapped or containerized plants. Pruning wounds may not close well, so train plants early in their life to develop the desired form and to avoid large pruning wounds.
Pests and Diseases
It is generally pest free, but scales of various types may infest twigs and foliage. Magnolia may be subject to leaf spots. Canker diseases will kill entire branches.
Footnotes
This document is FPS-369, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
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