Unusual Magnolia Facts That Will Surprise & Interest You

You may have seen or experienced the magnificent Magnolia flower, irrespective of where you live.

Magnolias are admired all over the world for their flowers and shapes. They grow as huge shrubs or trees, producing spectacular, fragrant blooms in white, pink, red, purple, or yellow.

The genus of Magnolia includes more than 200 species that are distributed all over the world. These large, attractive flowering plants are very popular with gardeners and landscapers. Among the Magnolia family is one with an unusual characteristic - it only blooms at night.

The white 'Lily Magnolia' has separate male and female flowers on each tree. Only fertilized flowers produce seeds while unfertilized ones produce beautiful but seedless blooms that are used by florists to decorate weddings and other special events.

The nectaries that contain the pollen are located at the base of each petal, which can irritate the skin if it comes into contact with them.

Magnolias are evergreen types of deciduous trees or bushes with large flowers that can be bowl-shaped or star-shaped and come in white, pink, purple, green, or yellow. In the spring, the flowers of deciduous species frequently develop before the leaves. Magnolia Atlas has the biggest flowers. Cone-like fruits are frequently produced in the autumn.

The evergreen Magnolia takes its name from French botanist Pierre Magnol. Its species have a fragmented natural range, with a primary center in the east and southeast Asia and a secondary center in eastern North America, Central America, the West Indies, and certain species in South America. Magnolia grandiflora is both Mississippi's and Louisiana's official state flower.

Read on for other fascinating facts about this pretty but unusual plant.

History And Origin Of Magnolia

Magnolias come from the Southern part of the United States (Georgia), China, East Asia, and parts of North America. The Magnolia is commonly seen in front gardens and is valued for its amenity value. While there is no doubt that the genus produces some gorgeous specimens, its complex history is equally admirable.

Here are some historical facts about Magnolia flowers and their origin.

According to fossil records, the Magnolia genus has existed since the Cretaceous epoch that is around 145-66 million years ago, making it the first blooming plant. Prior to this period, only conifers and cycads graced the land, which was followed by ferns and horsetails.

The term Magnolia originally appears in 1703 in Charles Plumier's (1646–1704) Genera for a blooming tree from Martinique (talauma). After Plumier, English botanist William Sherard, who studied botany in Paris under Magnol's pupil Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, was most likely the first to use the genus name, Magnolia.

Botanists and plant hunters traveling Asia around the end of the 18th century began naming and describing Magnolia species native to China and Japan.

Carl Peter Thunberg collected and described Magnolia obovata from Japan shortly after, in 1794, and Magnolia kobus was also gathered at around the same period.

Growing And Maintaining A Magnolia Tree

Magnolias are regarded to be one of the first flowering trees, having developed millions of years ago. It's easy to see why Magnolia trees are so inspiring when you view one up close.

Because they have survived for so long, they are incredibly robust and pest resistant once established. This evergreen tree with gray bark and beautiful flower petals has dark green, glossy oval-shaped leaves, and a delightful aroma. Magnolia bark has been utilized in traditional Japanese medicines.

Continue reading to find out how to grow and maintain a Magnolia tree.

You must make sure that the Magnolia trees are getting direct sunlight for at least eight hours.

Magnolias require weekly watering for the first six months after planting, until the roots have formed. They'll only require water after that if there's a severe drought.

A well-drained, slightly acidic soils are ideal for magnolia plants. To guarantee balanced pH and proper drainage, amend your soil before planting. Pine needles or other acidic components can be used as mulch over time.

Magnolias seldom require fertilizer to grow, especially if you plant a type local to your area. Perform a soil test on a regular basis to determine what the soil requires before fertilizing to prevent overloading the soil with nitrogen or other nutrients.

Soil Requirements

Magnolias need well-draining soil and should only be planted when fully dormant. They can tolerate full sun but need well-draining soil and should only be planted when fully dormant.

Any magnolia prefers acidic soil that is continually wet and cold, and that never floods after a thunderstorm. Most magnolias can tolerate somewhat less-than-ideal growth circumstances providing the soil is never too dry and its shallow root system is not trampled, compacted, or destroyed by the blade of a digging shovel.

Sand-based soils drain efficiently, but if organic matter is missing, they can dry up rapidly.

Loamy soils give ideal growth conditions for magnolias. It is neither too permeable nor too thick, so it maintains moisture efficiently while being a well-draining soil.

Clay soils that are damp and acidic are ideal for magnolia growth–as long as the soil drains effectively and never floods.

Types And Classification Of Magnolia

Because there are so many cultivars available now, you may plant the southern magnolia of your choosing according to the mature size that you require. So, whether you need a champion tree, such as the Goliath in Mississippi, or one that just grows to 180 in (457.2 cm), there are various species of Magnolia tree available.

Here are some types and classifications of the Magnolia tree.

Little Gem is a dwarf cultivar with little leaves and flowers that grows to around 119.88 in (304.5 cm) by 239.76 in (609 cm).

Brackens Brown Beauty is a thick, midsize magnolia that is one of the cold-hardy types.

Margaret Davis is enormous, broad estate magnolia trees and one of the fastest-growing types

Goliath is another large magnolia tree with flowers up to 12 in (30.5 cm) across, a lengthy flowering time, and a bushy growth habit.

Hasse is a 144.02 in (365.8 cm) dwarf that may be used to create a thick, compact hedge.