Magnoliafamily, Magnoliaceae
Origin: south-eastern and central China
Habitat in the original area: slopes and edges of forests
Habitus: A shrub or low tree with grey-brown bark growing up to the height of 3 metres.
Leaf: The leaves have up to 2 centimetres long petioles, an obovate blade up to 18 centimetres long and 10 centimetres wide; the blade narrows towards the petiole. The upper side is dark green, with sparse trichomes when young. The lower side is grey-green, with trichomes along the veins.
Bloom, fruit: It blooms from late April to June together with the leaves developing. It has a light scent. The blooms are up to 10 centimetres long, cup-shaped, composed of 9 petals the inner side of which is light pink and the outer side of which is dark burgundy. The fruit is a spherical follicle hidden in a brown cylindrical fruiting body, which is up to 10 centimetres long.
Interesting facts: The most commonly planted cultivar is ‘Nigra’. It is characterized by large blooms that are dark purple on the outside and pink in the centre. It is one of the parents of the most commonly grown hybrid of Magnolia Soulangeana.
