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.

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.

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.