Magnolia family, Magnoliaceae
Origin: Japan and Korea
Habitat in the original area: foothill forests
Habitus: A shrub or tree with a conical crown, growing to the height of 10 to 24 metres. The bark is brown-grey and smooth.
Leaf: The leaves grow alternately, are petiolate with an elliptical or obovate blade pointed at the top, their length is up to 17 centimetres and the width is 11 centimetres. The stipules fuse with the petiole and form a large bract.
Bloom, fruit: The plant blooms from March to April before the leaves sprout. The blooms grow singly and, upright, they are bell-shaped and up to 10 centimetres wide, and they have 9 white petals. The fruits are multi-seeded follicles stored in a cone.
Interesting facts: The species name “kobus” comes from the Japanese word “kobushi”, meaning “fist”, and it refers to the shape of the bloom buds.
