If you’ve got a Michelia in your garden, you might notice something strange this time of year: just as the flowers are putting on a show, the leaves start to fall.
So begs the question; Why my flowering Michelia is losing leaves?
It can look worrying — but the good news is, this is completely normal.
Why Your Michelia is Losing Leaves – and What Helps
Michelia trees pour everything they’ve got into producing flowers. All that effort means energy is pulled away from leaf growth for a while. The result? Older leaves start to yellow and drop off just as the flowers are blooming. It’s worth remembering that a tree leaf — even an evergreen — only has a lifespan of about a year. So, some leaf drop in spring is part of the natural cycle, especially when your Michelia is putting so much energy into flowering.
Here at Leafland, we often prune back some of the buds before they open.
Why? Because it forces the tree to balance its energy — fewer flowers now, but a much stronger flush of fresh, glossy leaves afterwards. It’s a simple trick to keep Michelia looking healthy and screen well year-round rather than exhausting themselves in one flowering burst. Michelia respond well to regular trimming — yearly or even more often. This helps keep the tree looking tidy, encourages denser foliage, and balances energy between flowers and leaves.
What’s Normal (and What’s Not)
✅ Normal:
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Yellowing or dropping of older leaves while flowering is heavy
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New green shoots appearing once flowers finish
⚠️ Not normal:
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Widespread browning or black spotting
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No new buds or leaf growth after flowering
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Signs of stress from poor drainage, overwatering, or pests
What to Expect Next
Once flowering wraps up, healthy Michelia trees quickly replace old leaves with fresh new growth. By summer, your tree should be covered in a strong, healthy canopy again — ready for the next season.
A little mulch, steady watering, and avoiding heavy, wet clay soil will help your Michelia thrive. They prefer well-drained soil and will reward you with strong flowers and healthy new leaves.
Want to see the Michelia varieties we grow at Leafland? Browse Michelia here →