This hybrid is a crossing between M. kobus and M. stellata. It has the upright habit of M. kobus and the star-shaped flowers of M. stellata. Usually grown as a shrub but can grow into a small tree, sometimes multiple-stemmed. Young specimen grow straight upright but with age the habit becomes spreading because the branches start bending. The eventual spread often exceeds its height. The flowers appear before the leaves. The flowering is rich with star-shaped flowers that are 10 - 15 cm across. The fragrant flowers are white but the outer petals have a pink to light violet stripe, giving the impression at a distance that they are pink. Both the flowers and the flower buds are less susceptible to late night frost than the other Magnolias. Magnolia loebneri 'Merrill' is a highly recommended cultivar with exceptionally abundant flowers. Of all the cultivars 'Merrill' has the largest flowers.
Magnolia ×loebneri 'Merrill' môže dorastať do výšky circa 3 - 5 (7) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Magnolia ×loebneri 'Merrill' rastie priemerne rastúci a môže dorastať do výšky circa 3 - 5 (7) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Správny čas na výsadbu stromu je mimo vegetačné obdobie. V strednej Európe môže byť Magnolia ×loebneri 'Merrill' so zemným balom vysadený od polovice novembra do konca apríla, avšak závisí to veľmi od klimatických podmienok a druhu stromu.