Appearance

• Magnolias grow deep-green leaves and bright-white and light-pink flowers. They stay green year-round and bloom starting in early April. They set their blooms for the next year in late summer and early fall.
  
  

Location and Soil

• Magnolias do best in partial sun, especially in warm areas. They need deep, rich soil that holds moisture around their roots, and do well in a mix of garden soil and peat moss or compost. According to Aggie Horticulture, magnolias won't survive in tight, clay-like soils.
  
  

Hardiness

• These plants are hardy to United States Department of Agriculture growing zones 7 to 10, and may not survive in colder or hotter areas.
  
  

Time Frame

• Magnolia leaves droop and fall off during spring, when the plants regenerate their foliage. This is not a cause for concern, as it means that the tree is producing new growth, rather than dying off.