On 14/02/2014 19:59, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 14/02/2014 16:35, Andrew May wrote:

I didn't say what it was because I don't really know. It was there when
I moved in. But it is probably 12' tall and has large deep purple
flowers. Sorry I can't be more specific. I do know that it is not a
Stellata cus I have one of those as well.

Sounds like you have Magnolia liliflora nigra or perhaps Magnolia
"Susan". It is easy to tell the difference as the former has a
wonderful citrus-like scent, whereas the latter is scentless.

The main problem with trying to move a Magnolia is that they have
fleshy, brittle roots. However, now would be the time to move one, as
they are usually dormant at this time of year. It would be worth trying
to save one of the smaller plants, as Magnolias can do quite well in
pots for a number of years. The main thing is to avoid root disturbance
as much as possible. If your soil is clayey, then you might be able to
move the plant as a single lump. Just try to keep the rootball together
and drop it into a large pot lined with thick polythene (that is there
to allow you to remove the plant easily in a year or three and drop it
into a hole in the ground. Then simply slide the polythene out). Fill
up the pot with decent soil, just in case the plant has to stay in it
for several years.


Sounds like Magnolia liliflora nigra since it has a scent and looks very
like the one on the RHS website. Many thanks - I had been wondering
exactly what it was.

Soil is quite sandy, although quite wet here at the moment. I had a go
at the weekend and got one shoot out but suspect at the expense of some
of the finer roots. I have moved it to a different part of the garden
where it will get a bit more sun but it remains to be seen how it gets
on. There are too many other roots to be able to dig around and down nicely.

There are two further shoots which are the ones that I would like to put
into pots but I suspect that I will have the same problem. I am digging
more or less under the existing canopy and that canopy goes down to the
ground.