Hi Fran, 

Unfortunately, we didn't receive the picture that you attached. Could you try sending it again? Southern Magnolia tends to bloom later in the spring. Does the tree have evergreen leaves? Perhaps you were referring to a Star Magnolia (typically white blooms) or a Saucer Magnolia (typically light pink blooms)?

If it is a deciduous type magnolia, then the leaves could be shriveled from the frost(s) we have had this spring. With the warmer days signalling plants to bloom or leaf out then the cold nights, it can cause the water in the cells in the leaves to freeze, expand and burst, causing leaf damage or distortion and discoloration.

Feel free to reattach the photo(s) so we can assess the damage and make any recommendations. 

Emily

Hi Fran, 

Thanks for sending all the photos. These help a lot. It looks like you have a Star Magnolia perhaps. You can view the photos on the link and compare the flowers. It's hard to see them clearly in the photos, or what is left of them. 

Some of the spitting in the upper branches is old since you can see the callous tissue and the bark covering the cracks. This could have been due to a number of factors: frost cracks, strong winds when the tree was younger, wounds from planting or other yard maintenance, deer rubbing antlers, etc. 

There isn't a cure for the cracking and peeling bark at the base and, unfortunately, it looks like the tree is slowly declining. It appears like it was planted too deeply, since we can't see a root flare. The trunk of the tree should come straight down, then flare at the base like a stem of a wine glass. Trees benefit from having a mulch ring around the trunk as well. This protects the tree from being hit while mowing or weed whackers. It also provides organic matter when the mulch breaks down and helps to retain soil moisture. Typically, you want about 3-4 inches of mulch in the outer part of the circle and then to taper it into the trunk but not have it touching the wood. 

The shriveled leaves and flowers look like they were hit with frost this past week. Magnolia are sensitive to this since they bloom and leaf out early in the spring. Many trees with new leaves were damaged by the cold temperatures recently. The big swing from unseasonally warm days to below freezing or close to freezing temperatures at night affects the tender new leaves. Those will fall off and new ones will take their place as we progress into the summer. 

There isn't much you can do to save the tree at this point, so we would recommend keeping it watered in times of drought to help reduce any stress and enjoy blooms until it stops producing and the canopy starts to die back. This could still be some time before this happens. 

Let us know if you have further questions.

Emily

You're welcome