Magnolia ‘Emperor’ is another beauty, bred by revered New Zealand breeder Vance Hooper, of Magnolia Grove, and a true monarch of the magnolia world. 'Emperor' is nothing short of magnificent, putting on a stunning and prolific early spring display of dark pink, dinner-plate sized flowers of around 30cm diameter. Glossy green leaves add a lovely background to a second round of flowering in summer. ‘Emperor’ is perfect as a garden feature tree but also wonderful in containers on the terrace. Little pruning is required, apart from removing damaged or dead branches and maybe lifting the crown to accommodate underplanting. Plant in a sheltered position, in moist free draining, fertile soils, with full sun for at least half the day. Deciduous.