I've noticed that some 'selections' of plants, while selected for some supposedly superior characteristics, sometimes then lack other characteristics. Butterfly bushes for example, selected for some vivid 'new' color instead of the usual pale lavender, but then have almost no scent compared to the original ones (and less attractive to pollinators) and also less cold tolerant. Also, my selections of crape myrtle for color (Nachez and Catawba) different from the standard, and those too seem to be LESS tolerant of cold than the originals. Just my observations.....

bengz6westmd, You may be right. Stellar Ruby does have a very nice and incredibly dense habit for Magnolia, and that is the main reason I chose it, to serve as a privacy/screening plant. But fragrance might have been reduced in the selection process. I'm also hoping the dense, branching growth habit might be more resistant to ice & snow, which is always a big issue for all of my other Magnolia laevifolia types, which have long, thin branches and very few side branches and they bend badly with ice or snow load, and sometimes break.

80F here today and still no fragrance from Stellar Ruby. I'm declaring the plant a dud and moving it to a less prominent position where it will still serve as a screening plant.

Next up: Magnolia 'Fairy White'. In addition to M. figo parentage, this one is derived from M. doltsopa. I saw M. doltsopa in full bloom in Brookings Oregon in March of 2023 and it was extremely fragrant. Anyone growing Fairy White?

art, the only magnolia I have is umbrella magnolia, but it is a very striking species w/huge leaves and flowers. I see the Japanese saucer magnolias around and, as they flower very early, about every other year the flowers get frozen and/or blown off by the northeast US spring weather.

So far no fragrance from stellar Ruby, Magnolia 'Fairy White is definitely fragrant but its not what i would call a strong fragrance! well not here in the uk anyway

My 'Stellar Ruby' can be quite fragrant (can smell it 10 feet away if the wind is right) as long as:

1) the plant is in full bloom with lots of flowers,

2) the temperature is at least in the upper 70s -- the warmer the better,

3) the humidity is high. So that may only be on certain days.

4) The blooms were not damaged in any way by a super-cold winter.

Maybe up here in Northern Virginia, with our longer winters, it tends to bloom more all-at-once and therefore we have more blooms at one time? With individual blooms, I have to get my nose right in there to detect anything.

My Mag. x 'Serendipity' has less fragrance, but what there is is more lemony and similar to Mag. virginiana.

I have no experience with Magnolias but my observation regarding fragrance is that high humidity helps. I have found that flowers have more fragrance or noticeable fragrance if otherwise missing after a rain or after being sprayed with water (indoor orchids).

That makes sense, we have super-low humidity when its warm here in the PNW. My M. 'Coppertallica' started blooming two days ago and it is again wonderfully fragrant, just like last year, even with the low humidity. 'Stellar Ruby' continues to bloom with no fragrance. FWIW, the flowers on my plant have no real "ruby" color like yours (Dave in NoVA), they're reddish-black, extremely dark, they never really open like in your photos, and the petals fall off quickly after partially opening.

@artinnature, time to spray them with water a couple of times a day. If that makes the blooms last longer and make them fragrant, I would say it' s worth the effort.

My michelia figo is only scented at certain time of the day so I'm guessing it's similar. Good to know it has a fragrance, thanks for the repot. Mine is still small but I do see some buds on it.

I'll be out there precisely at 5:20pm every day now. Last night I kept checking and the fragrance became more like bananas later in the evening. Back to no fragrance at all this morning.

Nice! I will check the blooms on mine too. I love the smell of M. figo so I'm wondering if Stella Ruby has a similar scent..

What other fragrant plants are you growing artinnature? (I'm in pdx so we are probably neighbors)