If you’ve seen a magical Jury Magnolia in bloom it’s a safe bet you’ve fallen in love and are making plans to plant one yourself. Which you’ll be pleased to know is also a smart decision because these are expertly bred, bullet-proof performers. Think high pedigree combined with the gorgeous looks of a supermodel. Also, they are small trees, which makes them super-easy to find a place for. In fact, the only tricky part is deciding which one of these must-have magnolias to choose. To make this simple, read on. And once you’ve brought your very special new Jury Magnolia home, make the effort to settle it in well* and then relax, because the brilliant plant-breeding know-how of the Jury family (of New Zealand) means these magnolias know how to look after themselves.

1. Magnolia Felix™... tends to get the most ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ simply because it is so big. Not the slow growing compact tree – which grows to a very manageable, upright sixteen feet or so – but the flowers. These are a whole foot across…. honestly…. and very luscious given their hot pink colouring. If you want an astonishing display in late winter and early spring (when exactly, depends on how cold your winters are), pick Magnolia Felix.

2. Magnolia Burgundy Star™... is for anyone who’s looking for something different. The flowers are like large star bursts of claret red held up on upward-reaching branches. Five inches across, they are also lightly fragrant. And if space is tight at home, this is your solution since this tree grows only three feet wide and ten feet tall.

3. And then we have the wonderful tulips…  Magnolias Black Tulip™ & Honey Tulip™. To be honest, you either love this goblet shape or not, but for all those fans it’s brilliant to know there is a choice of two colours. One has flowers that are a gorgeous purple-black and the other has golden honey. Both trees grow to around eleven feet and the flowers of both are the same size (six inches). Which means it comes down to colour and what sits best with the plants already growing in your garden.

* How to plant a tree: water your magnolia in its nursery pot before you do anything else; then pick a spot and dig a hole about two feet across and as deep as the pot your magnolia is growing in; if the soil isn’t crumbly make sure you loosen it up so the new roots can grow through it more easily; drive a sturdy stake into the hole (slightly off centre) then tip your magnolia out of its pot and position it up as close to the stake as you can; back fill the hole and gently but firmly press the soil back around the tree’s root ball to help anchor it in place and create a slight bowl to help hold future waterings; using something flexible, soft but strong (like pantyhose) tie the tree to the stake figure-eight-style; then water the magnolia in very well; and water regularly once a week for the next few weeks. Easy.