Magnolia Kay Parris
Magnolia Kay Parris
Evergreen Magnolia
Magnolia 'Kay Parris' is a stunning evergreen magnolia that combines beautiful, glossy foliage with masses of fragrant creamy white flowers from late spring through summer. One of its standout features is its rich green leaves with distinctive coppery-brown undersides, creating year-round interest even when the tree is not in bloom.
With a naturally dense, upright habit, 'Kay Parris' is an excellent choice for smaller gardens, feature planting, screening or evergreen hedging. Its manageable size and long flowering season make it a favourite for modern landscapes where year-round structure and low maintenance are important.
Why You'll Love Magnolia 'Kay Parris'
- Beautiful fragrant creamy white flowers
- Long flowering season from late spring into summer
- Glossy dark green foliage with copper-brown undersides
- Evergreen for year-round interest
- Naturally compact and dense
- Excellent feature tree or screening plant
- Low maintenance once established
- Well suited to New Zealand gardens
- Expected 5 Year Height 6.0 M Width 3.0 M
Is Magnolia Kay Parris suitable for my garden?
Is Magnolia Kay Parris suitable for my garden?
Magnolia Kay Parris is best suited in a position that gets
- Partial shade
- Full sun
Magnolia Kay Parris is
- Flowering
- Evergreen
- Frost Tender
- Drought resistant once established
- Wind Tolerant
- Frost Tolerant
Magnolia Kay Parris will thrive in soil that is
- Free draining
- Normal
- Clay
How to establish your Magnolia Kay Parris?
How to establish your Magnolia Kay Parris?
Plant in full sun to part shade in a sheltered spot for best flowering and growth.
Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter worked through before planting.
Water regularly during establishment, especially through dry Canterbury summers. Once settled in, Kay Parris is fairly hardy and copes well with occasional dry periods.
Apply a general slow-release fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy foliage and flowering.
Mulch around the base to help retain moisture and protect roots from temperature extremes. Keep mulch clear of the trunk.
More cold hardy than many evergreen magnolias and handles Canterbury frosts well once established. Shelter from extreme exposed winds while young.
How to maintain your Magnolia Kay Parris once established?
How to maintain your Magnolia Kay Parris once established?
Water deeply once or twice each week during the first growing season.
Once established, 'Kay Parris' is reasonably drought tolerant but performs best with occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods, especially through summer.
Feed each spring with:
A balanced slow-release fertiliser suitable for flowering trees.
Compost or well-rotted organic matter around the drip line.
Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can reduce flowering.
Very little pruning is required.
If shaping is needed:
Prune immediately after flowering.
Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches.
Avoid heavy pruning into older wood unless rejuvenating the tree.
Its naturally dense habit means regular trimming is rarely necessary.
Magnolia 'Kay Parris' is well suited to most New Zealand climates.
For best performance:
Mulch around the base before winter.
Protect young trees from severe frosts during their first few winters.
Established trees are frost hardy and cope well with normal winter conditions.
Pest and Disease Management
Magnolia 'Kay Parris' is generally a healthy, low-maintenance tree.
Occasionally monitor for:
Scale insects
Aphids
Sooty mould associated with sap-sucking insects
Healthy plants growing in well-drained soil rarely experience significant problems.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Share
