Elizabeth Magnolia

If you’re tired of the standard pinks and whites of early spring, the Elizabeth Magnolia is a breath of fresh, primrose-yellow air. Developed at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and named in honor of Elizabeth Van Brunt, this tree was the first successful yellow-flowering magnolia hybrid. It is a true aristocrat of the garden, prized for its large, 6-inch, cup-shaped blooms that appear on bare branches, looking like glowing candles against a spring sky.

One of the best practical features of 'Elizabeth' is its timing. It blooms slightly later than many other magnolias, which helps the delicate flowers escape the "brown-out" caused by late-season frosts that often ruin Star or Saucer magnolias. Beyond the visuals, the flowers carry a delightful, sweet fragrance with a hint of lemon. As the blooms fade, the tree fills out with large, leathery, deep green leaves that provide excellent shade throughout the summer. With its neat, pyramidal shape, it serves as a sophisticated specimen tree that only gets more majestic with age.