"jay jay" wrote echinosum;780960 Wrote:
It's not disease, it's just weather damage, always a risk with magnolia
flowers, especially if they are early flowering. Frost is the common
cause, but battering from rain and wind can also cause it. .

Hello Echinosum, many thanks for your reply. I started out with such
hopes for this Magnolia but I guess it could well be doomed - yes we've
had frost, heavy rain and yes its normal! But other Magnolias round
here flower at the same time and look healthy. I don't think mine is
particularly exposed and it's definitely not in a frost pocket. It IS
east facing but that means early morning sun. I wonder if it would be
worth covering it with fleece as the flower buds open? At least whilst
it is young enough to reach the top...



You've just hit the nail on the head, early morning sun on frosted
buds...fatal. They effectively freeze dry.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden