Magnolia Cultivars J

'J.C. Williams'

Flowers precocious, to 15 cm across, reddish purple, a very similar colour to M. campbellii ‘Lanarth’. A large shrub or small tree raised by Phillip Tregunna, head gardener at Caerhays Castle, Cornwall; registered 1997 by F. Julian Williams, named for his grandfather, who was responsible for planting the Caerhays garden (Edwards & Marshall 2019). Highly rated by Philippe de Spoelberch, Belgium (pers. comm. 2021).

Magnolia 'J.C. Williams': a warm purple hue which shows up well in the garden (Lamellan, Cornwall, 27th March 2008). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

'Jack Fogg'

See Magnolia × foggii ‘Jack Fogg’.

'Janaki Ammal'

See Magnolia kobus ‘Janaki Ammal’.

'Jane'

Flowers erect, precocious but late, to 10 cm across, red-purple outside, white inside, fragrant and beautifully shaped; tepals 8–10. A vigorous medium to large shrub, usually upright, sometimes tree like. A de Vos & Kosar hybrid raised at the US National Arboretum before 1968; named for Jane Freeman, wife of then US Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman.

Magnolia 'Jane', flowering with the leaves (9th May 2016). Image Caerhays Estate.

Magnolia 'Jane' (9th May 2016). Image Caerhays Estate.

Like the other de Vos & Kosar 'Girls', Magnolia 'Jane' is usually shrubby (9th May 2016). Image Caerhays Estate.

'Jane Platt'

See Magnolia stellata ‘Jane Platt’.

'Janet'

Flowers precocious, opening widely to 20 cm across; tepals clean pink (no hint of purple); a small to medium tree raised from a deliberate cross in John Gallagher’s Dorset garden before 2014. Along with ‘Peter Dummer’ of the same parentage, Williams, Gardiner & Gallagher (2016) include it in their selection of up-and-coming magnolias, noting that the ‘delicate mixture of white outer tepals blushed pink, and central pink tepals makes one stop and think how different this variety is to, say, Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle”.

'Jermyns'

See Magnolia salicifolia ‘Jermyns’.

'Jersey Belle'

Flowers with the leaves in late spring to early summer, large (15–20 cm across), nodding, with red anthers. A large, spreading shrub raised from seed of M. sinensis before 1981 by Violet Lort-Phillips, LaColline Garden, Jersey (Fogg & Del Tredici 1984). After some initial confusion with M. wilsonii ‘Highdownensis’, Flinck & Spongberg (1989) recognised its hybrid origin, citing habit and leaf shape closer to M. wilsonii, but crinkled hairs on the leaf undersides resembling M. sinensis.

Magnolia 'Jersey Belle' is intermediate between its two very similar parents (17th May 2014). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Cut shoots of Magnolia 'Jersey Belle' showing leaf undersides (10th May 2011). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia 'Jersey Belle' has large flowers by the standards of oyamas (17th May 2014). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

'Jim Gardiner'

Flowers precocious, late March to early April (S England), pale pink, ‘double’ with ~20 incurved inner tepals surrounded by a ring of eight. The original, a small pyramidal tree, has been growing in a rather poorly drained site on the north side of the house at Borde Hill, West Sussex, for over 50 years, but its origins are unknown (J. Gardiner, pers. comm. 2022). Although the Register of Magnolia Cultivars (Lobdell 2021) suggests that its parentage is uncertain, possibly even a hybrid of M. campbellii, Jim Gardiner’s view is that it belongs to M. campbellii Mollicomata Group. It was named by Eleni Stephenson Clarke in 2014 for the well-known British magnolia specialist Jim Gardiner VMH, Royal Horticultural Society Vice President and former Curator of RHS Garden Wisley, in recognition of his long service as an advisor at Borde Hill.

The original specimen of Magnolia 'Jim Gardiner' in full flower (Borde Hill, West Sussex; March 2022). Image Jim Gardiner.

'Jim Wilson'

See Magnolia virginiana ‘Jim Wilson’.

'Joe McDaniel'

Flowers precocious, initially tulip-shaped, opening out bowl-shaped to 20 cm across, deep red-purple outside, inside contrastingly paler, almost white. A small upright tree. Gresham hybrid selected by Ken Durio, LA, before 1984, at the time the darkest purple of the Greshams (Fogg & Del Tredici 1984). Professor Joe McDaniel (University of Illinois) was a leading 20th century expert in cultivated magnolias, and introduced many new cultivars across a range of woody plant genera.

Magnolia 'Joe McDaniel': a striking bicolor (Parco Botanico Eisenhut Gambarogno, 30th March 2012). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia 'Joe McDaniel' (Parco Botanico Eisenhut Gambarogno, 30th March 2012). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia 'Joe McDaniel' (Caerhays Castle, Cornwall; 25 March 2023). Image Julian Sutton.

'John Bond'

Flowers precocious, mid-April in S England, cup-and-saucer-shaped to 23 cm across, pure white. A small, multistemmed tree selected by John Bond at the Savill Garden, Windsor; named and registered 2001 by Timothy Whiteley (Callaway 2001; Frank P Matthews 2022).

'Joli Pompon'

Flowers precocious, April in Belgium and England; about 12 pure white tepals, with a mass of much smaller soft pink staminodes: a most unusual and attractive flower (Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery 2022). A small tree selected by Philippe de Spoelberch, Belgium before 2018 and rated highly by him (pers. comm. 2021).

Magnolia 'Joli Pompon' (13th April 2010). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

The extraordinary flower form of Magnolia 'Joli Pompon', with stamens replaced by pale pink staminodes (13th April 2010). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia 'Joli Pompon' (18th April 2016). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

'Jon Jon'

Flowers precocious but late, goblet-shaped, later opening saucer-shaped to 30 cm across, white with a basal purple flush outside. A small upright tree flowering late enough usually to avoid frost damage in N Florida (Knox 2011); this is a particular problem with Gresham hybrids in the American Southeast (M. Lobdell, pers. comm. 2022). Selected in the 1980s from the Gresham hybrids at Gloster Arboretum, MS, by John Allen Smith; parentage unknown, but flow cytometry data are compatible with the classic Gresham crosses (M. × veitchii) × (M. × soulangeana cvV.) (Parris et al. 2010).

Magnolia 'Jon Jon', a Gresham hybrid (JC Raulston Arboretum, 30th March 2009). Image JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University.

Later-flowering Magnolia 'Jon Jon' can be successful in the American southeast (JC Raulston Arboretum, 23rd March 2015). Image JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University.

Flowers of Magnolia 'Jon Jon' ultimately open almost flat (JC Raulston Arboretum, 26th March 2010). Image JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University.

Flowers of Magnolia 'Jon Jon' in spectacular bloom at the JC Raulston Arboretum (29th March 2010). Image JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University.

'Judy'

Flowers erect, precocious and early, to 7.5 cm across, red-purple outside, creamy white inside; tepals 10. A relatively slow growing, medium to large shrub of upright habit. A de Vos & Kosar hybrid raised at the US National Arboretum before 1968; named for one of Francis de Vos’ daughters.

Magnolia 'Judy' (Parc de la Beaujoire, Nantes, 2nd May 2011). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia 'Judy' (Parc de la Beaujoire, Nantes, 2nd May 2011). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

'Judy Zuk'

Flowers with or just before the new leaves (April in S England), erect, tulip-shaped, fragrant; tepals orange-yellow outside with a purple basal flash, golden yellow inside. An upright small tree, becoming round-headed. From a cross made at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1980. Judith Zuk, director of the Scott Arboretum, PA, later of Brooklyn Botanic (whose revival she led) confessed to an ‘uncommon weakness for magnolias’ (Martin 2007). Starred as worthwhile by Philippe de Spoelberch, Belgium (pers. comm. 2021).

The flowers of Magnolia 'Judy Zuk' are incredibly richly coloured (Scott Arboretum, early May 2009). Image John Grimshaw.

Magnolia 'Judy Zuk' (Scott Arboretum, early May 2009). Image John Grimshaw.

A young specimen of Magnolia 'Judy Zuk' at the Scott Arboretum, early May 2009. Image John Grimshaw.

The richly coloured flowers of Magnolia 'Judy Zuk'. Image Jim Gardiner.

'Jurmag1'

Flowers precocious, cup-shaped to 15 cm across; very dark purple, thick-textured and wind-resistant. A compact small tree, suitable for smaller gardens. Raised by Mark Jury, New Zealand; introduced 1998, protected by New Zealand and European plant breeder’s rights (Jury 2017; Jury & Jury 2021). Highly rated by Philippe de Spoelberch, Belgium (pers. comm. 2021).

Magnolia 'Jurmag1' (BLACK TULIP). Tikorangi, New Zealand, 23rd August 2009. Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia BLACK TULIP has exceptionally dark tepals (Tikorangi, New Zealand). Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia BLACK TULIP (Tikorangi, New Zealand, 5th September 2018). Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia BLACK TULIP with wide-open flowers (Parco Botanico Eisenhut Gambarogno, 30th March 2012). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

In cooler climates with lower sun intensity BLACK TULIP is often rather paler in colour than it is elsewhere, as here at the Yorkshire Arboretum in northern England (early April 2024). Image John Grimshaw.

'Jurmag2'

Flowers precocious, cup-and-saucer-shaped, very large to 35 cm across, red ageing rosy pink. A vigorous, small (potentially medium) tree, flowering from a young age. Raised by Mark Jury, New Zealand, named for his father, breeder of both this cultivar’s parents; introduced 2000, protected by New Zealand and European plant breeder’s rights (Jury 2017; Jury & Jury 2021). From a British perspective, Edwards & Marshall (2019) rate it ‘perhaps the finest’ Jury Magnolia, but even the raiser admits that it is less red away from New Zealand, ‘more an over-sized pink flamingo so far in European gardens’ (Jury & Jury 2021).

Magnolia 'Jurmag2' (FELIX JURY): a powerful, intense colour (Tikorangi, New Zealand). Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia FELIX JURY is sometimes less red outside New Zealand, but is still a strong colour as here in Belgium (14th April 2015). Image Philippe de Spoelberch.

Magnolia FELIX JURY: red tones are possible even in Europe (RHS Garden Wisley, March 2012). Image John Grimshaw.

Magnolia (FELIX JURY). Tikorangi, New Zealand, 29th August 2014. Image Abbie Jury.

'Jurmag4'

Flowers precocious, over several weeks from late March in S England, initially tulip-shaped, later opening out to 25 cm across, wine-red, slightly fragrant. A vigorous, notably narrow shrub or small tree, flowering from a young age and rather hardier than most other Jury Magnolias. Raised by Mark Jury, New Zealand, introduced 2006, protected by New Zealand and European plant breeder’s rights (Jury 2017; Jury & Jury 2021; Edwards & Marshall 2019).

Magnolia 'Jurmag4' (BURGUNDY STAR). Tikorangi, New Zealand. Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia BURGUNDY STAR (Tikorangi, New Zealand, 31st August 2012). Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia BURGUNDY STAR has a narrow, upright form (Tikorangi, New Zealand, 1st September 2009). Image Abbie Jury.

The dark tepals of Magnolia BURGUNDY STAR showing in bud at Caerhays Castle (1st March 2022). Image Julian Sutton.

A rogue, late flower on Magnolia BURGUNDY STAR at Hereweka Gardens, Portobello, New Zealand. 26 November 2023. Image Tom Christian.

'Jurmag5'

Flowers precocious, late March to April in S England, goblet shaped to 15 cm across, honey- or toffee-yellow, even in later flowers; tepals of good substance. Upright small tree of complex parentage, with five species in its genetic background: MM. acuminata, campbellii, denudata, liliiflora and sargentiana. Introduced 2013 by Mark Jury, New Zealand (Jury 2017; Jury & Jury 2021; Edwards & Marshall 2019).

Magnolia 'Jurmag5' (HONEY TULIP) in Tikorangi, New Zealand, 10th October 2011. Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia HONEY TULIP is a genuinely precocious flowering yellow (Tikorangi, New Zealand, 13th September 2018). Image Abbie Jury.

Magnolia HONEY TULIP is a complex hybrid, combining the genes of five species. Image Maurice Foster.

Magnolia HONEY TULIP flowering well at White House Farm, Kent, UK (22 April 2023). Image Jack Aldridge.

'Just Jean'

See Magnolia × soulangeana ‘Just Jean’.