MAGNOLIA 



MAGNOLIA 



1965 



M. glauca, and the exotics M. Coco (M. pumila) and M. 

 fuscata, the last being now referred to Michelia. Mag- 

 nolia grandiflora is a noble tree. It is native of the 

 middle and southern sections of Georgia, South Caro- 

 lina, Alabama, Louisiana and the upper districts of 

 Florida, and is recognized as one of the grandest of all 

 broad-leaved evergreen trees. In its native habitat it 

 attains a height of 75 to 100 feet, with very large, oval 

 or lanceolate coriaceous leaves. The latter vary, how- 

 ever, from very broad to rather narrow, some with a 

 rusty under surface, others quite smooth. The flowers 

 vary also in size, the largest frequently measuring 10 to 

 12 inches in diameter when fully expanded; others do 

 not attain more than half that size. They appear early 

 in May, in some sections during the latter part of April, 

 and continue until the end of June. Some trees produce 

 a few flowers during August, and even as late as Octo- 

 ber, but these are exceptions. Each flower lasts from 

 two to four days, when the petals fall and the cone-like 

 fruit appears. This gradually increases in size until 

 September, when the bright coral-red seeds are detached 

 and hang on long filaments. The seed should be gath- 

 ered when fully ripe, put in dry sand until February in 

 the South, then in moist sand for a week or ten days, 

 when the resinous cuticle can be removed by washing. 

 Sow the cleaned seed in a box or coldframe, and as the 

 plants show their second leaves pot off in small pots. 

 In July, give a larger-sized pot, and the plants will be 

 sufficiently large to plant in permanent place during 

 the following autumn or winter. It is always advisable 

 to take pot-grown plants, as they succeed better than 

 plants taken up with bare roots. Magnolias are vora- 

 cious feeders, and require rich soil and an abundance 

 of plant-food. Their roots extend to a great length, 

 and to bring out the stately beauty of this tree they 

 should be given ample space. The wood is white, and 

 valued for cabinet-work. There are many forms culti- 

 vated in European nurseries, their main characteristics 

 being in the size and form of the leaves and size of 

 flowers. They are propagated by grafting, either by in- 

 arching or cleft- or tongue-graft. The latter should be 

 done under glass, taking two-year-old pot-grown seed- 

 lings. The fragrance of the flowers varies also, some 

 flowers being more pungent than others, but, as a rule, 

 the fragrance is pleasant. The principal varieties are 

 M. grandiflora var. gloriosa, with flowers often meas- 

 uring 14 inches in diameter; foliage broad and massive, 

 brown on under surface. The tree seldom grows beyond 

 40 feet. Var. prsecox, or early-flowering. Var.rotundifolia, 

 with very dark green roundish leaves, rusty underneath. 



Magnolia glauca, the sweet bay, is an evergreen tree 

 in the southern states, becoming deciduous northward. 

 It attains a height of 30 feet in rich bottoms or swampy 

 lands: leaves oval, long or elliptical, with a glaucous 

 under surface: flowers white, 3 to 4 inches in diameter, 

 very fragrant, and produced from May to July. This 

 tree is not sufficiently appreciated as an ornamental 

 in landscape gardening. 



Magnolia Coco (M. pumila, or Talauma pumila) is a 

 very dwarf Chinese species, seldom growing more than 

 4 or 5 feet high : leaves smooth, elliptical, sharp-pointed, 

 coriaceous: flowers 1 to 1^/2 inches in diameter, white 

 or slightly tinged green, with six to nine fleshy petals, 

 which drop soon after the flowers expand. The fra- 

 grance is intense at night, and resembles a ripe pine- 

 apple. It thrives best in a rich, partially shaded soil, 

 but a frost of 10 below the freezing-point will injure it. 

 It is therefore best to grow it as a conservatory plant. 

 Propagate by ripened wood cuttings in bottom heat. 

 As this plant is in bloom during nearly the whole year, 

 and its delicate fragrance is unsurpassed, it is strange 

 that it is so little known. 



Deciduous kinds. (L. A. Berckmans.) 



Magnolia acuminata (cucumber tree) is an upright- 

 growing variety, with spreading branches, especially 



desirable for the upper sections, where it attains an 

 immense size : leaves oblong, bright green : greenish yel- 

 low flowers produced in late spring. 



Magnolia cordata is an exceedingly rare variety 

 found only near Augusta, Georgia, and the western part 

 of South Carolina: leaves oval: flowers about 3 inches 

 long, lemon-yellow. Forms a small tree. Does well in 

 sandy soil. 



Magnolia denudata (Yulan) is a native of China 

 with pure white flowers produced in early spring 

 before the leaves appear. It attains an ultimate height 

 of not more than 20 feet. 



Magnolia Fraseri has leaves 8 to 12 niches long and 

 produces white flowers 3 to 4 inches wide. This is a 

 hardy variety and is especially adapted to the upper 

 section. Attains a height of 25 to 50 feet. Found nat- 

 urally from Virginia to Florida. 



2296. Magnolia Thompsoniana. ( X >i) 



Magnolia Kobus, from Japan, is of pyramidal growth 

 with short and slender branches: leaves -4 to 5 inches 

 long : flowers pure white, appearing before the leaves. A 

 desirable early-flowering species. 



Magnolia macrophylla (great -leaved magnolia) is 

 a symmetrical-growing variety with wide, spreading 

 branches, growing naturally as far south as Florida: 

 leaves 18 to 24 inches in length, 9 to 10 inches wide, 

 bright green above, silvery beneath: flowers 10 to 12 

 inches in diameter, white, disagreeable odor. Tree 

 attains a height of 20 to 50 feet. 



Magnolia Soulangeana (Soulang's magnolia) is a 

 magnificent tree of garden origin and is supposed to be 

 a hybrid between Magnolia liliflora and Magnolia 

 denudata: leaves dark green, expanding after the 

 flowers have passed: flowers large, cup -shaped, 

 creamy white, more or less suffused with pink; blooms 

 in March: hardy: ultimate height, 25 feet. Var. nigra 

 (dark-flowered magnolia) is a variety of vigorous and 

 robust growth: flowers large, dark purple, several 

 shades darker than Magnolia liliflora, a free bloomer; 

 begins to bloom in March and blooms spasmodically 

 during the entire summer. In var. Lennei (Lenne's 

 magnolia) the flowers are deep crimson on the outside; 

 blooms a little later than the type. Var. speciosa is 

 almost identical in color with the species but more cup- 

 shaped and petals broader. 



Magnolia stellata (M. Halleana, starry magnolia) is 

 of dwarf habit: flowers semi-double, pure white and 

 very fragrant. Blooms from two to three weeks earlier 

 than any other magnolia; very hardy. 



Magnolia tripetala (umbrella magnolia) is a tree 20 to 

 40 feet high: leaves dark green, light underneath: flow- 



