MAGNOLIA. North and Central America, Asia. Though we have shunned the general run of landscape trees, the magnolias have been irresistible. The following represent our recent efforts toward a reasonably well-balanced collection. Some of them can be huge trees in their native forests but–fortunately for most of us–are usually much smaller in cultivation here. All have large, relatively thin-textured leaves, appearing with or immediately after their large, wide-open to tulip shaped blossoms. The flowers are often sweetly and powerfully fragrant. Sun, well drained non-alkaline soil, regular watering from spring to fall. Hardy to below 0^oF.

denudata. Yulan magnolia. A pyramidal tree with spreading branches, up to 50’ high in the wild but probably half that in most gardens here. It has broad, pointed 4-6" leaves, emerging just as the flowers fade. Cupped cream-white flowers up to 6" broad are carried at every shoot tip of the previous season’s growth in early spring. This is one of the most successful of the deciduous magnolias in California gardens.

Kosar hybrids. Crosses of M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ with M. stellata ‘Rosea’. They are of moderate growth and closely branched like M. stellata and its hybrids. The leaves are closer to those of the liliiflora parent, but smaller. The selection ‘Betty’ has 3" tulip shaped blossoms colored bright rose pink. ‘Susan’ is nearly identical except for its dark purplish red flower color.

x loebneri. Hybrids of M. kobus and M. stellata, these include several clonal selections, all of them bushy and of moderate growth to 10-15’. Their branches are neatly lined during the growing season with 3-4" leaves. In early spring they burst forth with showers of 4" many-petalled blossoms reminiscent of waterlilies. ‘Dr. Merrill’ has pure white blossoms. Those of ‘Leonard Messel’ are bright pink.

officinalis. This species is frankly experimental for us, one of several received from Piroche Plants in British Columbia. It can grow over 60’ high in the wild but considerably less here. The leaves may be over a foot long, broad and blunt-tipped. The flowers are borne on bare branches in early spring. They are cupped in form and measure up to 8" across. They are cream-white overall, with red stamens.

sieboldii. Oyama magnolia. This has been one of my favorites of the group since first sight. It is usually shrubby, growing up to 15’ high here, twice that in the wild. The leaves are 4-5" long, broad and pointed, deep green above and blue-green beneath. Facing outwards among them in late spring and summer are beautiful cupped, snow-white flowers with broad segments, the outer ones curled back at the tips. The many stamens are deep red, creating a beautiful contrast.

x soulangeana. Saucer magnolia. These include the best known of the large flowered deciduous hybrids. They are of open, upright growth to 20’ or more, with smooth trunks, attractive even in winter. The leaves are large and bold. Huge cup-to saucer shaped blossoms form a nearly solid canopy in early spring. ‘Lennei’ has broadly cupped flowers which are bright purple outside, cream within. ‘Lennei Alba’ is virtually identical except that the flowers are cream white. Those of ‘Alexandrina’ are tulip shaped, lighter and redder than ‘Lennei’ outside.

stellata. Star magnolia. Roundish, closely branched shrubs, growing around 10’ tall and often broader than tall. They have dark green 3-4" leaves with paler undersurfaces. Many white blossoms, each about 3" broad and having twelve or more narrow petals, decorate the plant in early spring. ‘Waterlily’ is an old favorite, with an abundance of relatively large white blossoms opening from pale pink buds. ‘Royal Star’ is similar but perhaps more vigorous. ‘Rosea’ is another old favorite, with pale pink blossoms. ‘Centennial’ is a recent introduction by the Arnold Arboretum, boasting many-parted white blossoms which measure over 5" across.

‘Vulcan’. A stunning hybrid from New Zealand, broadly branched and growing 15-25’ high. The leaves are large and bold. Before they appear in early spring, wide-open blossoms nearly a foot across are borne at the branch tips. Their color, inside and out, is officially described as “ruby red”, though this is a slight exaggeration. In any case it is one of the showiest of all magnolias.