290 Trees for Shade and Ornament 



The exotic magnolias from China and Japan form quite a group by 

 themselves, and are prized for the profusion and magnificence of their 

 early flowers. They are hardier than most of our natives and can be 

 grown as far north as New England, forming most desirable ornaments 

 for e\'ery garden and small place, especially when grouped with kalmia, 

 rhododendron, and other evergreen shrubber\'. For best flower 

 effects they should be kept trimmed to shrub form. There are many 

 species, varieties, and hybrids, varying mainly in color and size of 

 flower. 



The most commonly planted, remarkable for tlie profusion of their 

 large fragrant flowers which appear before the leaves in earliest spring, 

 are — 



M. Yidan Desf. (230) (conspicua), a small tree from China, semi-hardy 

 into New York and New England, with pure white flowers; 



M. obovata Thunb. (231) (purpurea) is usually a large shrub with 

 stout branches and purple flowers, and a variety of this, M. gracilis, is 

 a small bushy shrub, with slender branches and dark purple flowers 

 (May, June). 



M. parviflora S. & Z. (232) and M. Watsoni Hook. (232a) excel by 

 their large, creamy-white flowers with crimson stamens. 



M. stellata Max. (233) (Halleana), one of the most beautiful of the 

 smaller trees (eight feet), compact and with spreading branches, is 

 quite hardy, bearing profuse, small, white, dainty, and fragrant flowers 

 when quite small, and very early (March, April). 



M. Kobiis Thunb. (234), from Japan, one of the hardiest (as far as 

 Toronto), is a medium-sized tree, with yellowish-white flow'ers bloom- 

 ing rather later in life. 



-]/. hypolciica S. & Z. (235), a tall tree from Japan, and also quite 

 hardy, with very large leaves, bright green above, silvery-white to bluish 

 beneath, and very large, fragrant, creamy-white petals with scarlet 

 stamens, blooming after leafing, and showy fruit in fall. 



M. Soiilangeana Soul. (236), probably a hybrid of the two pre- 

 ceding, of lower stature and spreading habit, with immense white 

 flowers appearing later than those of the former, is also one of the 

 hardiest. 



M. speciosa (236a), also a hybrid of the above, with red and white 

 or rose-colored flowers, appearing still later. 



M. Alexandrina, another hybrid, is a small tree of bushy habit, 

 with large, pink flowers (April, May). 



