The Stunning Evergreen Plant With A Fruity Scent That Doubles As A Privacy Hedge

Whether you're an avid gardener or a beginner, you're probably already at least a little familiar with magnolia trees. After all, these elegant flowering trees are super popular in the South. There's one low-maintenance evergreen magnolia cultivar you might not have heard of. It grows upright with dense foliage, making it an ideal hedge to plant for privacy in your yard. The particular cultivar is named for its gorgeous ruby-red, yellow-centered flowers, which bloom abundantly in the spring and summer. They smell like bananas and pears. Hence, this plant's other common name is the banana shrub. We're talking about the 'Stellar Ruby' magnolia (Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby').

'Stellar Ruby' magnolias grow quickly, maxing out at about 20 feet. Like its parent, Magnolia figo, and related cultivars, it produces flowers even when young. Another reason they're great for hedges is that they tolerate trimming really well. You can easily prune the shrub into whatever shape you wish after it finishes flowering. They're also resistant to most pests and deer, and tolerate salt and drought. That said, there are some things to keep in mind when planting this unusually fragrant magnolia. It has some nuanced care requirements, especially if you're growing multiple shrubs near each other for privacy or trying to establish a young plant in its long-term location.

'Stellar Ruby' magnolia is best planted in the spring and grown as a hedge border around your garden or outdoor living area, or along either side of a walkway or driveway. You'll get privacy from neighbors and passersby, and you and your guests can appreciate the unique scent of this fragrant tree that will make your yard smell better than ever in the spring and summer. 'Stellar Ruby' can tolerate partial shade. However, to maximize those sweet-smelling blooms, it's better to plant it in a sunny spot.

If you're planting multiple shrubs to form a hedge, avoid overcrowding by spacing them 3 to 4 feet away from each other. For reference, mature 'Stellar Ruby' magnolias can grow 6 to 8 feet wide, so at maturity, they'll fill in the gaps. If the young shrubs you purchased from the nursery come in containers, water them while still potted and let them drain thoroughly. They prefer a rich, well-draining soil, so till the soil in the planting area to break up any compaction and amend it with compost or well-aged manure before transplanting your saplings. Water each newly planted 'Stellar Ruby' magnolia deeply and often to encourage root development and apply a few inches of mulch around the base.

You don't have to babysit 'Stellar Ruby' magnolias. Part of this plant's appeal is how fuss-free they are once established — at about two years old. To keep your shrubs healthy, water them regularly during the growing season, and apply slow-release fertilizer once a year, ideally in late spring. The best time of year to tame an overgrown magnolia tree is after the first influx of new flowers in the spring. Trimming your 'Stellar Ruby' hedge in summer could jeopardize next season's blooms.