Magnolia grandiflora 'Goliath'

This magnificent evergreen magnolia is very different from the spring-flowering types and much hardier than other grandiflora varieties. Magnolia grandiflora 'Goliath' boasts massive, leather-like, deep glossy foliage with velvety, red-brown undersides which will provide interest in your garden all year round. Providing larger and longer-flowering blooms that will emerge from a young age, 'Goliath' will form a large, rounded, bushy tree that makes a superb free-standing specimen or can be trained against a warm, sunny wall. Giant, bowl-like blooms, measuring up to 30cm in diameter, will burst into bloom in mid summer to autumn. Sturdy, cream petals unfurl to reveal luxurious flowers with a heavenly fragrance which contrast beautifully against the deep green leaves. Magnolia grandiflora 'Goliath' will produce blooms from only 3 years old and surprisingly, unlike other varieties, this magnolia will cope well in more alkaline, chalky soils. Maximum height: 10m (32ft). Maximum spread: 5m (23ft).