MICHELIA. South and Southeast Asia. Evergreen magnolia allies with attractive, often shiny foliage and fragrant white to yellow flowers, nestled among the leaves. They include some of the most ornamental of all flowering trees. All of the following should have reasonably well drained, fertile and non-alkaline soil and constant moisture. Away from the coast, they should be protected from hot, dry winds. Hardy as described below.
doltsopa. A large tree in the wild, usually under 30’ in cultivation. It has sturdy trunks with light brown bark, upswept branches which are bright green when young, and 6-8" pointed oval leaves which are dark green above, light bluish green beneath. The 4-6" blossoms, somewhat resembling those of Magnolia stellata, are cream-colored and wonderfully fragrant. ‘Silver Cloud’ is a particularly large flowered, floriferous selection from Duncan & Davies Nurseries in New Zealand. All should be protected from hot, dry winds, but otherwise prefer a sunny exposure. 15-20oF.
figo (fuscata). Banana shrub. In this selection, a densely branched shrub growing 10’ tall or more if left alone but easily restrained by pruning. The 3" leaves are broadly oval, dark green above and quite shiny. Scattered among them, most abundantly in summer, are 2" narrow-petalled blossoms, cream outside and brownish purple within. They fill the air with a fruity fragrance. The selection ‘Port Wine’ has particularly dark flowers and narrow leaves but is otherwise typical of the species. Sun or light shade near the coast, part shade inland. About 15oF., though the plants may defoliate in response to sudden hard freezes.
x foggii “#2". A hybrid between M. figo and M. doltsopa, both described above, seeming in the current individual to capture the best features of both parents. It has a strong, straight central axis, unlike M. figo, with spreading branches. Based on its current growth, I would expect it to reach 20’ or more in time. The leaves are dark and deeply veined, 4-6” long. The plants flower at an early age, carrying many fragrant white flowers in spring along the previous year’s shoots. 20oF. or less. Received from Woodlanders in South Carolina.
maudiae. This is simply one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. It grows perhaps 20-30’ high in cultivation, varying in form from bushy and upright-oval to more spreading and open. The leaves are broadly oval, up to 6” long and beautifully colored–usually dark bluish green above and a striking chalky blue beneath. The flowers are quite variable in size, but in the better forms (which, naturally, we are reselecting from seedling batches as they bloom), they are up to 6” broad (8" in one case here) and breathtaking in their beauty. The wide, tapered petals are snow-white, sometimes with pink shading at the base. As if this were not enough, the flowers can be deliciously fragrant, suggesting wintergreen and other fruits and spices. This species thrives in full sun near the coast but should have afternoon shading in the interior. It is hardy to 20oF. or less, possibly much less. One of the most exciting recent introductions by Piroche Plants in British Columbia.
platypetala. This is a more robust tree than the last though similar in overall appearance. It grows 40’ or more high as a forest tree, probably less here, with upright-oval form and attractive reddish brown bark. The leaves are fairly broad, 4-6" long, and quite smooth and dark, with a polished surface. The wide petalled flowers are up to 4" across. They are pure white with red centers and sweetly and spicily scented. This species is best in a lightly shaded site. It should be hardy to 15oF. or less. This is another Piroche Plants introduction.
wilsonii (sinensis). Another vigorous forest tree, growing up to 60’ high. It has smooth light green to grey-green bark and narrowly pointed-oval leaves up to 6” long. These are glossy and dark green above, paler beneath. The flowers have up to a dozen flared 2" segments colored clear to pale yellow rather than white. We are hoping for our first flowering soon. The trees are easily grown, though of uncertain hardiness. I would assume about 20oF. for the time being. Yet another Piroche introduction.
yunnanensis. A few years ago I was pleased to receive a batch of seedlings of this michelia from Roger Warner. However, I was not quite prepared for the results. This is an extremely variable large shrub or small tree, with habit ranging from strongly upright through dome-shaped to prostrate, even in this one seedling batch. The leaves are like a broader, thicker and darker variant of those of the banana shrub, M. figo, and almost equally glossy. The flowers, however, are quite distinct. They are broadly cupped to wide-open and range from a little over an inch to three inches broad, with a variable number of segments. Color ranges from cream to snow-white. Their sweet fragrance is also distinct, perhaps more like gardenias than the lemon-and-banana mix of M. figo. They are also borne at every node along the younger stems. The main show arrives in mid-spring, and a scattering persists over much of the season. I have already made selections from the initial batch, including one with wonderful broad-petalled 3" blossoms. These plants are clearly hardier than currently cultivated forms of M. figo, and not prone to that species’ sudden defoliation after the first blast of winter.