Description

Note: Comments refer mostly to 'Susan' hybrid.

Leaves: Alternate; simple; obovate or elliptical; 4" to 7" long; 2" to 4" wide; deciduous; angled apex; dark green and glabrous above; paler and slightly hairy on veins beneath; short petiole.

Twigs/buds: Twigs fairly stout; glabrous; brown.  Flower buds about 1/3" to 1/2" long, covered with hairs; other buds smaller.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, very dramatic, up to 7" diameter, pink-purple, with six long petals; appear early before the leaves emerge.  Fruit an aggregate of follicles.

Bark: Tan to gray.

Wood: Unimportant; little information available; however, lumber from some commercial magnolia species is used for furniture, pallets, boxes, blinds, veneer, doors, and millwork.

General: Native to China.  Intermediate shade tolerance.

Landscape Use: Not well known in Utah.  A small shrubby tree with dramatic pink-purple flowers.  Best to plant it with protection from warm winter sun, like near the north side of a building or with evergreens to the south and southwest.  Zones 4-8.  M. liliiflora has some cultivars, but often found as M. liliiflora x stellata hybrids.  'Susan' cultivar pictured here is one of these hybrids.  I have one growing on the northwest side of my house in Logan and it has done very well for 10 years; deserves more attention in Utah.  Zones 4-8.

Cultivars: 'Al's Dwarf', 'Darkest Purple', 'Doris', 'Gracilis', 'Holland Red', 'Lyons', 'Mini Mouse', 'Nigra', 'O'Neill', 'Purple Prince'.

Characteristics