Star of the East
Magnolia made its way from China to become a big favourite in many gardens. David Overend reports.
Magnolia denudata, known as the lilytree or Yulan magnolia, has come a long way from its native China where it has been cultivated in Buddhist temple gardens (where its flowers were regarded as a symbol of purity) since 600 AD.
Once the great Victorian plant-hunters got wind of it, it was only a matter of time before it headed west to bring its beauty to some of Britain’s biggest private gardens.
So, from April onwards, its pure white, gobletshaped flowers are now borne on the bare stems of magnificent trees dotted around this land.
It’s best appreciated when planted against a dark green wall of foliage, which provides a dramatic contrast both for the flower and the summer leaves.
And although Magnolia denudata can easily reach up to 10 metres in height and spread, it grows so slowly that it is often chosen as a variety for smaller gardens.
Another wonder brought back to Britain by those intrepid hunters is Magnolia sargentiana var robusta (it also hails from the Far East and not the south-eastern
United States – where the majority of magnolias have their home) which also blooms in March and April.
It joins the like of M soulangiana whose great waxy blooms range in colour from pure white (Alba superba) to rosy red (rubra) as a wonder of the spring.
Both M soulangiana and M sargentiana rubra may start off small, but given the right conditions, they will spread upwards and outwards until they no longer guaranteed to be flavour of the month in an average-sized garden. Expect a mature specimen of sargentiana rubra to spread its branches and eventually reach a height of 40ft. Anyone thinking of planting such a tree should take that into account and prepare its home with care. Magnolias prefer a welldrained, good garden loam rich in organic matter, compost or leafmould, much like their forest home, and they seem to do better when planted while dormant. And anyone who wants a magnolia but hasn’t the space for a potential giant should consider instead M stellata, which bears fragrant star-shaped flowers in April and which has the decency to grow to perhaps only six foot in height and not much more in width.