Mixed opionions on here about that, I have Stellarta and Grandiflora in very large tubs and are doing well but I think the general advise is that if you can and have room to plant them in the ground.

I had a stellata in a tub which didn't do very well. Once I put it into a shaded part of the garden, with dappled sun, it's done great.

Always better to have trees in the ground if you can, watering is less bothersome for a start. You could get away with Magnolia stellarta if it was in a big enough container but grandiflora will struggle after a few years and Magnolias don't like being moved.

Thank you for the help. I don't have the right place to plant it in the ground. I thought magnolias came in bush form too.

Do you know which magnolia it is you have. If you do, you can probs get an approximate height it would grow to. As I said, I have the stellata which I think only grows to a maximum of 6'. I just prune the odd branch that sticks out at an angle, just to keep it in shape

Sheila yes stellata only grows to around 2 metres whilst grandiflora is a real 'big' tree!

Thank you all. I have not got the plant yet. I am trying to find out which one might grow in a tub. I've looked at stellata in my gardening book and it looks rather like a daisy. The one chopped down was a grandiflora I think. I am going to the garden centre later today.

If a magnolia is planted in a tub then the roots would be restricted. Does this mean that the size (height/width) would also be restricted?

stellata doesn't look anything like a daisy in the flesh. Snag is with root restriction Casso at some point there will be so many roots in the pot that there will be no way for the shrub to survive. It will work for a few years but is not a long term solution.

Thank you moongrower. I will give it some more thought.