Does size matter?

Magnolia à soulangeana will grow to 5-10m tall, rarely a little more, whereas Ginkgo will grow to 20m or more.

Resin

I get the impression that size is an issue, since the dreaded words "unless it can be KEPT small" were used in reference to the Ginkgo.

Halesia comes to mind, as does Hovenia.

Sounds like a good spot for a shrub. Shrubby deciduous magnolias include star magnolia, lily magnolia, the Kosar and De Vos ('Little Girl') hybrids between those two, and Oyama magnolia. Sunset Western Garden Book has a table of magnolias.

...offered by this major supplier may be encountered at garden centers there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Finder Results for Magnolia

While Ginkgoes do get large - eventually - they grow very slowly. A ginkgo getting too large in your lifetime is not likely (even if you're only a teenager now.)
Mike

I just can't see using a magnolia in that situation. I love magnolias and have many but I don't think their foliage would stand out against the oaks like some other plants might. The ginko would be better and and there are lots of cultivars of various shapes including a couple of variegated ones that would look great against a dark back ground. David

A dark background is perfect for deciduous magnolias. Makes them show up nicely. If these are native evergreen oaks like Quercus agrifolia, so much the better.

The deciduous magnolias do come in a number of different cultivars, with varying mature heights and varying shapes. I have a 'Jane' (I think, the tag is long gone), one of the Little Girl series, which after 5 years in the ground, from a 1-gal. pot, in very good, built up soil in a flower bed, well watered, etc., is now about 10-12 feet tall and maybe 5-6 feet wide. It has a heavy crop of dark purple-y flowers in spring (now) before the leaves, and sporadic flowers throughout the summer. I THINK it is supposed to mature at less than 20 feet, but will have to wait and see. I have another of the series, possibly 'Jacky'?, which stayed in its pot for another year, and is planted in relatively unimproved clay with less watering. It is about 5 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide, with pale pinker flowers, only in the spring so far.

A friend has another one (unknown variety and age) which is probably 15-20 feet high and about the same wide, with pale pink flowers.

So if Marystem looks carefully, she can select the shape and size of magnolia that will fit her planned spot.

But, I agree with Picea that the magnolia foliage may not stand out too well, since the deciduous foliage, in my experience, tends not to be as shiny as the evergreen ones. I am not sure a gingko is the best alternative, as the ones I have seen as youg trees are not overly attractive; in fact I think calling them gangly is being kind. Since 3 of them are growing for me, I am not against them, just saying they take a while to become attractive. But, mine are of unknown parentage, just generic gingkos, so some of the selected cultivars may be very good, even at a young age. Certainly, the fall foliage should be spectacular against the oaks!

However, as far as the eventual height goes, unless there are shorter cultivars of gingko, I would be reluctant to plant anything that I KNEW would be too big. Eventually SOMEONE will have to deal with it, even if it's the next owner of the property. There must be some species/variety of tree that will grow sufficiently fast to make a statement in a reasonable length of time, without coninuing to grow beyond the desired height. I admit to being slightly inconsistent in this, as I am quite happy to plant short lived things like dogwoods, and not be too upset at the idea that I will have to take them out in 20-30 years for reasons of old age, but it really bothers me to think of taking out a perfectly healthy tree, just because it has now grown too tall for where it was planted, when I KNOW I will have to do this. And I get even MORE bothered at the idea that someone would then top a tree because it is too big! Just a personal idiosyncracy...

Nothing idiosyncratic about thinking a topped tree is a sad thing. Don't get the bit about deciduous magnolia leaves not looking well against a dark background, that is a bit unconventional. Of course, a background of other large deciduous leaves wouldn't work - and the fine-textured dark leaves of conifers are ideal - but a small-leaved, dark oak like Q. agrifolia should look pretty good, too.

The Kosar and De Vos magnolia hybrids are

'Ann'
'Betty'
'Jane'
'Judy'
'Pinkie'
'Randy'
'Ricki'
'Susan'

Bboy, what I meant about the deciduous leaves not standing out is that, IMO, matte, dark green leaves against a dark background tend to 'disappear'. I know the leaves of 'Jane', in front of my turning-grey/brown, natural cedar porch, are not especially noticable. Since the ones I have aren't seen against a dark, oak leaf background, I probably should have kept quiet, from lack of experience.

Thanks for the list of names of the magnolia hybrids - I think, looking at it and trying to remember, that my other one is 'Ricki', but the only thing I am sure of is that it's one of them....

Marystem, I hope you are finding some good in all this discussion, and that you are closer to deciding what to choose. You said that you want a "bright" specimen treee. Does that mean you want a tree that stands out sharply, like a variegated cultivar, or one that has flowers or fruit or fall color, so it is showcased at intervals throughout the year? While finding a tree that has all three is difficult, finding one with two of the attributes is certainly possible. While gingko may outgrow your space, the leaves are attractive all summer, and especially so in the fall. Magnolias have great spring flowers, attractive, large leaves, and little fall color. There are various trees with colored foliage, both purple and white or yellow and green, or yellow altogether, that would look good. Some of them even have flowers! If you give us a little more information, we may be able to give you more choices - and then confuse you with our varying opinions!

There are several new dwarf cultivars of Gingkos, some purporting to be as small as 3feet at maturity, suitable for bonsai. I have no personal experience with these; they do sound interesting. Forestfarm carries a couple of them.

I think a new striped ginkgo would be beautiful against a dark background. This one grows slowly, there is more information on the page the link takes you to.

Here is a link that might be useful: GINKGO BILOBA 'MAJESTIC BUTTERFLY'

Have you thought about a slow growing Ginkgo tree that is columnar? It's not too hard to find young Ginkgos that are nice looking. There are also other Ginkgos that are available like 'Witches Broom Ginkgo' or 'Chi Chi Ginkgo' which are described as more like a large shrub. Perhaps you could train one of the large shrub types to grow into a tree? Perhaps it could be like a multi stemmed tree. These are just some thoughts. I've attached a link you might find helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ginkgos on Forest Farm's Site (pictures too)

Here is a list of some Ginkgos you might want to consider 'Summer Rainbow'-Variegated, 'Chase Man Mattan'-Dwarf, 'Ross Moore'-weeping. IF you can grow sweet bay magnolia in your area there is a variegated selection called 'Mattie Mae Smith' that that would look nice in you setting. David

Okay, wow, lots of feedback. Bboy is right, it is a dark background of q. agrifolia, and I think the ginkgo might be too big. Looking at several magnolias, the foliage bothers me, too, I love the bright green of the m. soulangeana just as its coming out, but I think those leaves get darker. It wont' get much backlight. So, yes, dibbit, I want a tree that has it all! It's somewhat of a focal point. I'm still entertaining magnolias, but now looking at dogwoods, cornus florida does best in this area. They are small, okay in shade, and I'm looking out for one with an open habit, with those cool horizontal branches. Do they need tons of water?

In the end, I passed over the magnolias and dogwoods because of their water needs, and ginkgo for its size. I found a nice redbud, Cercis reniformis 'alba', that is drought tolerant and will take a half day of shade. It doesn't grow very large, and has light green, large heart-shaped, matte leaves, that stand out strongly against the dark liveoaks. It is a pretty drought tolerant tree. It looks pretty. It blooms white in spring. Thanks for everyone's input.