Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; obovate or narrow-elliptical; 2" to 4" long; 1" to 2" wide; deciduous; rounded apex; dark green and glabrous above; paler and mostly glabrous beneath; short petiole.

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

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, dramatic, 3" to 4" diameter, white, with many narrow, fairly long petals; appear early before the leaves emerge.  Fruit an aggregate of follicles; 2" long.

Bark: Gray, smooth; attractive when mature.

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 Japan.  Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Fairly popular in Utah.  A small tree with dramatic white flowers.  Though shade intolerant, 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 4-9.

Cultivars: 'Alexseed', 'Centennial', 'Chollipo', 'Chrysanthemumiflora', 'Cody', 'Dawn', 'G.H Kern', 'Jane Platt', 'Kikuzaki', 'King Rose', 'Persian Plum' ,'Pink Stardust', 'Pink Waterlily', 'Rosea', 'Rosea Fine Variety', 'Rosea Massey', 'Royal Star', 'Rubra', 'Scented Silver', 'Select Pink', 'Starlite', 'Two Stones', 'Waterlily', 'White Star', 'White Waterlily'.

Characteristics