magnolia magic
Find a place this spring for one of these uniquely beautiful trees and shrubs. The dilemma is, which one?
Everything about magnolias enchants. The lush foliage, flowers, elegant forms, fragrance – and timing. Many species bloom on bare branches in late winter and early spring – right now, in fact, when their opulence could not be more welcome. Others are evergreen, like the gorgeous
Magnolia grandiflora, which blooms in summer, its huge flowers perfectly described as “great white pigeons settling among dark leaves” by renowned gardener Vita Sackville-West. With their wing-like petals – white, creamy or pink, often with a darker reverse – all magnolia flowers have this sense of mobile life as if just alighted or just about to fly.
Magnolias are slow-growing, but time is relative for this ancient genus, which is one of the oldest flowering plants in the world. The largest number of species is found in Asia but there are also a number native to the Americas, including
M. grandiflora, the original Southern belle. Of the 250-odd species, only a few of the most easily grown are available in South Africa – no bad thing, because even a small garden can find room for two or three.
Magnolia x soulangeana is a small deciduous tree that produces masses of cool pink, tulip-like flowers in late winter and early spring, followed by glossy lightgreen leaves. Magnolia stellata is a shrub or small tree that produces a storm of fragrant starry white flowers, also on bare branches. And Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ is a deciduous shrub with rosy purple flowers. The port wine magnolia, Magnolia figo (also known as Michelia figo), is a subtly beautiful evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy light-green leaves and creamy mauve flowers with petals edged in dark red and smelling deliciously of bananas. It makes an excellent screening shrub.
Magnolia grandiflora is the queen of them all, a giant with a serene presence. Its dark glossy leaves have a bronze-felted reverse; its white waxy flowers are at least 20cm across, with an exquisite fragrance. A more compact version, ‘Little Gem’, is available for small gardens and is even suitable for growing in large pots.