When you say saucer magnolia, do you mean the deciduous ones that bloom in the spring on bare trees, or do you mean the evergreen ones that bloom in summer with white flowers?

Yes, the deciduous trees that bloom in spring. Thanks

I had my heart set on a Magnolia × soulangeana (saucer). Instead, by unhappy accident, got a M. stellata. From the reading I did it seemed drainage was key. Our soil was clay on the alkaline side (Sunset z22). Where I live now the saucer magnolias are in heavy alkaline soil.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=261557&isprofile=0&

Leonard Messel Magnolia is what I would plant if I could do it again.

Thank you!