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Jane Magnolia priblems #361680

Asked September 11, 2016, 1:39 PM EDT

My Jane Magnolia has brown tips on the leaves. Also the only two blooms started turning brown before blooming. Please let me know what to do to help it It's a young tree and these would be some of its first blooms. It's planted in full sun. Dallas TX area. It has been planted for about a year.

Dallas County Texas

Expert Response

It appears that you Jane Magnolia Tree has sunscald on its leaves and blooms.

See location directions below

The "Jane" magnolia tree is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 7, where it will grow in either full or partial shade. An ideal location would be one with direct morning sunlight, and some protection in the afternoon. The tree needs about 10 feet of space to spread out comfortably. The "Jane" magnolia, and other "Little Girl" hybrids, must have good air circulation, as they are prone to powdery mildew.


Sun scald can also be caused by a lack of moisture so that the water does not get all the way to the end of the leaves.   Mulch around the root system well and water frequently.  Newly planted trees (first 2 years) need 5 gallons of water a week. 

With the blooms, Jane Magnolias bloom in the early spring like end of February or first of March.  I am guessing these are rogue blooms due to the cool wet periods we have had this summer and it is too hot for them to mature.


Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Carreen Carson

Master Gardener




An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 12, 2016, 1:45 PM EDT
Thanks for the quick response. The oddest part of the brown on the blooms is that just a day or two earlier they were perfect. Then we had a light rain. The next day I noticed they were turning brown.  The leaves have been brown tipped for a while.   It is planted in the middle of the yard and May get too much. Dun. The attached show the blooms before the turned brown. 
The Question Asker Replied September 12, 2016, 2:51 PM EDT

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