Knowledgebase
Magnolia fungus or systemic bacteria #800238
Asked July 09, 2022, 1:34 PM EDT
I have a tulip magnolia that is approximately 6-8 years old. Last summer it started dropping its leaves and then regrowing new leaves and dropping them again. My blooms are dying before opening. My neighbors pool and sprinkler system leaked consistently for more than a year and the tree is next to our shared fence. I thought it had developed fungus. This year I've sprayed multiple times with fungicide and this seems to have slowed it down. I did prune this year and all the branches removed were internally healthy. I'm just wondering if this is fungus. what type it is, and if there is any hope to not have to cut down my very large, formerly very gorgeous tree.
Collin County Texas
Expert Response
Additional photo
I volunteer at the Dallas Arboretum. They have many Saucer Magnolias (Magnolia X soulangeana) which typically bloom once in February. Often guests call these magnolias Tulip Trees because the February bloom looks very similar to a tulip flower. There is such a tree as a Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), but it is not similar to the Saucer Magnolia. After the Saucer Magnolias have bloomed, their leaves are not particularly attractive as they often have dead tips particularly if they get too much sun.
With this background, we get to your “Tulip magnolia.” Your question was written July 9, but it is written as though your flower blooms were recently falling off. I’m having a hard time processing this set of circumstances since (as I mentioned) Saucer Magnolias typically bloom in February. My first question would be, what is the botanical name of your tree. When I search “Tulip magnolia,” the results show a Saucer Magnolia.
If you could clarify, that would be helpful.
Rick Williams
Thanks for your additional information. If you search "When does a Saucer Magnolia bloom?", you'll see the answer is once although on rare occasions twice. The pictures you provide do seem to show a tulip like flower bud, and I'd love to know what your tree actually is as I'd like to have one myself if it blooms throughout the year.
Not knowing what your tree is, I'll take a stab. It is unlikely a fungal problem as it's too hot right now for most any fungus to be active. In high heat situations, trees often abort leaves and/or flowers. You mentioned that your tree had dropped leaves last year and it seems to be a problem this year. I'm guessing that your tree may not be adapted for the Texas heat, but not knowing the botanical name of your tree, I'm just providing an educational guess. If you remember the retailer from which you bought your tree, you might want to return and see if the botanical name can be IDed.
Best I can do and good luck
Rick Williams
