I’m seeing white, and I’m happy to say that I am not referring to the snow flurries I drove through this morning.  The Royal Star and Merrill Magnolias are working hard to distract us from the cold shoulder spring has turned on us.  The large white fragrant flowers of these classic ornamentals are reason enough to fall “like snow” for these beautiful plants, but magnolias have more to offer then bloom alone.  Magnolias create densely branched large shrubs or small trees, depending on how they are grown.  By nature, they form upright rounded plants with thick dark green leaves that turn golden-yellow to bronze in fall.  Royal Star is a very popular variety of magnolia.  It matures at a versatile 8-10′ tall and wide, making it an excellent selection near walkways, in corner plantings, or as specimens in the landscape.  Merrill Magnolias are equally beautiful, but with a larger habit.  They are documented to mature around 40′ tall and 30′ wide.  Magnolias prefer full sun to part shade, and acidic soils.  Amend your planting site with peat moss and feed with plant food for acid loving plants.  This will help to keep your magnolias in a flurry of floral beauty each spring.