Gardens with magnolias

These goblet or star-shaped flowers found on garden trees and shrubs are always firm favourites, and for good reason. Their colours range from pure white to deepest purple and they fill the spring air with a gorgeous scent. Flowering begins in early spring and lasts until late summer/early autumn.

Magnolia tree in flower with Blickling in the background

Blickling Estate, Norfolk 

As the weather gets warmer Blickling begins to show its colours, with golden daffodils, bright tulips, and hellebores in shades of pink, plum, green and white. Take a stroll around the grounds to see this colourful display, and head to the West Garden to see beautiful magnolias.

Discover the magnolias at Blickling
Magnolia at Dudmaston in Shropshire

Dudmaston, Shropshire 

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Dudmaston, with rhododendrons, azaleas, daffodils and magnolias turning the garden into a riot of colour. There are magnolia trees dotted all around the American Garden but it’s worth finding the stunning Magnolia liliiflora variety in the clock tower border.

Find stunning magnolias at Dudmaston
The Orangery in spring in the garden at Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey, Altringham 

See the garden spring into life at Dunham Massey, with magnolias dotted around for you to spot on your visit. During the first world war, soldiers found solace in the peaceful grounds here. Discover the magnolias in this historical garden for yourself.

Discover magnolias at Dunham Massey
Magnolia in full flower by the pond

Glendurgan Garden, Cornwall 

Pretty pink and white magnolias add a real splash of colour to Glendurgan in the springtime. Take a walk through the gardens to see spectacular magnolia displays as well as camellias, azaleas and wild flowers.

Find pretty magnolias at Glendurgan
Magnolia in flower by the river at Greenway

Greenway, Devon 

Bright pink and white magnolia blooms herald the start of spring at Greenway. Take a stroll around the grounds of Agatha Christie’s beloved holiday home and find the magnolia tree planted by her husband Max Mallowan, which usually flowers in March.

Explore Greenway's gardens this spring
Magnolia soulangeana 'Alba' at Hinton Ampner

Hinton Ampner, Hampshire 

Take a walk around this tranquil garden with beautifully manicured lawns and far-reaching views over the South Downs. The garden has a huge magnolia tree that reaches to the top of the house, as well as a magnolia walk that blooms with fragrant white and pink flowers in the springtime.

Find fragrant magnolias at Hinton Ampner
Visitors sitting on a bench in the walled garden under a large magnolia tree at Mottisfont, Hampshire

Mottisfont, Hampshire 

Late March sees the flowering of a magnificent magnolia tree at Mottisfont. It creates an archway of snowy blossom, leading you through to a delightful small cherry orchard, which in late spring, is awash with white flowers. Often, for a week or so, the two are in flower together, creating a beautiful blossom experience.

Walk beneath snowy magnolia blossom
The magnolia tree blooming in the Menagerie Garden

Nostell Priory and Parkland, West Yorkshire 

Look out for impressive magnolias in the Menagerie Garden, which was planted in 1743. The Menagerie House, designed by Robert Adam, was once home to exotic species, from monkeys and colourful birds to lions.

Discover the magnolia at Nostell
Visitors sitting beneath a Magnolia tree on the Lawn, Nymans, West Sussex, in April

Nymans, West Sussex 

The collection of magnolias at Nymans is well-known, and one of the property’s spring highlights. The variety 'Leonard Messel’ was first cultivated at Nymans Garden in Sussex in the early 1950s, and has since become very popular for planting in domestic-sized gardens.

See magnolias at Nymans
Magnolia Wilsonii in the garden at Rowallane, Co Down, Northern Ireland

Rowallane Garden, Northern Ireland 

Originally built for vegetables by the Reverend John Moore, the walled garden at Rowallane became more focused on ornamental planting under the supervision of his nephew, Hugh. Today it is a must-see for magnolias, daphnes and azaleas. One of the magnolia trees is so tall that it can be seen from the car park when in bloom.

See Rowallane's magnificent magnolias
A Magnolia tree in full bloom in April

Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex 

This informal landscape garden was laid out in the 18th century by ‘Capability’ Brown, and enhanced in the 20th century by owner Arthur G. Soames, who planted most of the shrubs. Spring is a great time to visit, when the daffodils and bluebells are in bloom beneath a canopy of magnolias, rhododendrons and azaleas.

Discover the blooms at Sheffield Park
Visitor walking through the garden at Sissinghurst with magnolia in the foreground

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent 

Magnolias flower throughout this world-famous garden in springtime, but one area of the garden is especially worth visiting. Delos, named after a Greek island, becomes a carpet of colour in spring with pink chionodoxas, scillas and white anemones, looked over proudly by a Magnolia salicifolia and a large mauve rhododendron.

Find magnolias at Sissinghurst
Visitor taking a photograph of a tree at Trelissick, Cornwall

Trelissick, Cornwall 

Our gardeners at Trelissick cultivate several varieties of magnolia, including Magnolia stellata. With its white, star-shaped flowers and light scent, it puts on a beautiful display in spring.

See the display of magnolias at Trelissick
Magnolia tree in flower at Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall

Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall 

Take a stroll around Trengwainton in the early spring months to see Magnolia campbellii trees burst into life. Large, waxy flowers in various shades of pink, white and magenta bloom against bright blue skies. See if you can find one of the largest magnolia trees in the garden which is over 90 years old.

Spot various shades of pink at Trengwainton
Magnolia in bloom

Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey 

Winkworth really comes to life in spring, with the magnolia blooms joined by cherry blossom and drifts of bluebells. The azalea walk is a mass of colour at the end of April, lining the path to the boathouse which overlooks the lake.

Visit Winkworth's magnolias this spring