Star Magnolia care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) wants full sun and a drink about every 7 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. It is safe to have around pets.
| scientific name | Magnolia stellata |
|---|---|
| family | Magnoliaceae |
| category | tree |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | full sun |
| water cadence days | 7 |
| mature height cm | 500 |
| min zone | 4 |
| max zone | 8 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | false |
| toxic to humans | false |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Star Magnolia?
Small enough for any garden; starry white in March.
Who eats it
Palatable to people: no.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is medium. Its drought tolerance is low. It wants at least about 35 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 60 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 5.0. It tolerates soil up to pH 6.2. Its fertility requirement is medium. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: no. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: no. It needs at least 160 frost-free days. Its fire tolerance is low. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -8°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a multiple stem form. Its growth rate is moderate. Its lifespan is long. It puts on most of its growth in spring. It resprouts after damage: yes. Coppices: yes. Its tolerance of hedging is low. At maturity it reaches about 26.0 feet. By twenty years it is about 20 feet. Its roots go down at least 18 inches. Its shape is semi-erect. It holds its leaves through winter: no.
What it looks like
It blooms in mid spring. The flowers are white. Conspicuous in flower: yes. The foliage is green. The foliage texture is coarse. In summer the canopy is moderate in porosity. In winter it is porous in porosity. Fall colour: no. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in spring. Fruit finishes by summer. It fruits medium. The fruit persists on the plant: yes. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: yes. Propagated by container: yes. Propagated by bare root: yes. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: yes. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: routinely available.
Source: Drafted from US Cooperative Extension horticulture guidance; pending HUMAN-05 review (issue 280) · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02