{"product_id":"magnolia-figo-stellar-ruby","title":"Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMagnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby'\u003c\/strong\u003e is an evergreen magnolia in the banana shrub group, prized for its small, richly scented flowers in shades of ruby, maroon and dusky pink. The fragrance is the real party trick: it is variously described as ripe bananas, pear drops or vintage port, and it carries on warm days. Unlike the big spring magnolias, this is a dense, narrow, upright evergreen that flowers from a young age and grows quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e The RHS rates it H3, so it is best suited to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003emild and coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, a warm sheltered courtyard or a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge container\u003c\/a\u003e that can be moved under cover in a hard winter. Some UK nurseries report established plants in sheltered spots standing around -10C, but in cold inland gardens it is safest treated as a plant that needs winter protection. The main flush of flowers comes in late spring and early summer, often with a second flush in late summer, and the glossy deep green leaves hold all year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Give it full sun or light shade in a sheltered position, ideally south, east or west facing, out of cold drying winds. It likes a fertile, moist but well-drained soil on the neutral to acid side, and it does well in a pot of peat-free, loam-based compost. Expect roughly 2.5 to 4m tall but only 1 to 1.5m wide within five to ten years, so it fits where most magnolias will not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUsing it in the garden.\u003c\/strong\u003e The slim, columnar shape makes it a natural choice for small gardens, courtyards and doorways, where the scent can be enjoyed close up. Use it as an evergreen exclamation mark in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, as \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003einformal screening\u003c\/a\u003e in mild gardens, or as a pair of pot-grown sentinels either side of a path. It sits beautifully with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003elush, large-leaved planting\u003c\/a\u003e that shows off the neat, glossy foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58234095174015,"sku":"MAGNFIGORUB19","price":49.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/magnolia_e726b24f-b775-4ed4-9443-445506219d94.jpg?v=1787318650","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/magnolia-figo-stellar-ruby","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}