Butterfly Yellow Magnolia

Magnolia ‘Butterfly’ is a deciduous flowering tree valued for fragrant yellow flowers that open in spring, often before the leaves. Its compact outline for a magnolia makes it suitable as a specimen in a lawn or as a focal tree in a larger border. ## Site and Size Choose a sunny or partly shaded position with room for a mature tree about 15–20 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide. The form is upright to pyramidal, though its final shape depends on site and pruning. Shelter the planting from cold winds where possible, and avoid locations where late frost routinely damages early flower buds. ## Soil and Seasonal Interest Provide rich, moist, well-drained soil and water regularly while the tree establishes. The fragrant yellow blooms are the main spring feature; green foliage carries the display through summer. Magnolia ‘Butterfly’ is a hybrid selection, so retain the cultivar name when identifying or sourcing the plant. ## Maintenance Water deeply during dry periods, especially during the first growing seasons. Maintain a mulch layer over the root zone without piling it against the trunk. Prune only to remove damaged or crossing branches, preferably after flowering, and avoid heavy shaping that would reduce future bloom. Sources: [Southern Illinois University Arboretum](https://arboretum.siu.edu/selection/tree6389.php), [Pépinière.ca Magnolia × Butterfly](https://www.pepiniere.ca/en/products/magnolia-butterfly), [UBC Botanical Garden](https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/news-events/april-in-the-neighbourhood/).