Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni'

Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' (star magnolia) is an EXTREMELY RARE, deciduous shrub with "red" star star like flowers in early spring.  Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' is reportedly the most "red" cultivar of Magnolia stellata. As you can see from the photos, it most certainly is not "red" but does have very dark reddish colored buds (the most "red" that I've seen before) that open to an pale pink with much darker pink on the reverse side of the petals.  Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' does stand out from the other darker colored Magnolia stellata cultivars because it doesn't have the lavender undertones that the others have. I received my plant of Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' roughly 20 years ago and it is now maybe 4' tall.  It is extremely slow growing and has proven very difficult to propagate and additionally due to slow growth it has almost no material available for propagation.  I've had very little luck grafting it and rooting in has been tough as well.  After 20 years, I finally have TWO plants available on their own roots.  I'm not sure if we will ever have Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' ever available again due the extreme difficultly in propagation.  Magnolia stellata 'Hirai Beni' will make a beautiful spring time addition to your garden as a small, slow growing specimen.  

• HARDINESS:  zones 4-8b
• EXPOSURE:  Part shade, sun (best)
• SIZE: 4-6+ VERY SLOWLY
• SHIPPING SIZE:  1/2 gallon pot, 30 " plant.