MAGNOLIAS 
*“CAMPBELL’S MAGNOLIA (M. 
campbelli). This very large, deciduous 
tree from the foothills of the Himalayas, 
was called by Hooker the most beautiful 
flowering tree in the world. The spectac- 
ular blossoms, shading from pinkish-white 
inside to almost crimson outside, may be 
8-14 inches across, appearing in February 
on bare branches. Well drained loam, 
plenty of moisture, and absence of lime- 
stone are needed. These grafted trees 
from a 80-year-old specimen in Golden 
Gate Park, San Francisco, should bloom 
within ten years. This very rare tree is 
suited only to large gardens. 
SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA (M. grandi- 
flora). Grandest of evergreen trees, this 
Florida native has a spreading head of 
large, deep green, glossy leaves and im- 
mense lily-like, fragrant flowers. Excellent 
specimen and street tree. 
*CHAMPACA (Michelia champaca). 
This quick-growing beautiful, tall ever- 
green tree from the temperate Himalayas, 
is widely planted in the Far East for its 
long, shining leaves and very fragrant soli- 
tary, 32-inch, deep yellow flowers which 
are star-shaped with 12 petals, “not un- 
like a double narcissus.” The fragrance of 
the flowers is too powerful for most noses 
and even bees pass them by, but native 
women delight to wear them in their hair. 
In India the tree begins blooming in April 
and continues intermittently throughout 
the year. It is planted as an avenue tree 
in Rio de Janeiro. 
*TALAUMA (T. hedgsoni). This tend- 
er evergreen tree from the Sikkim Hima- 
layas was ranked by Hooker as second in 
beauty only to its close relative Magnolia 
campbellii. It rises to 60 feet, producing 
flowers and leaves at the same time. The 
flowers are cup-shaped, fully 6” across 
and 4” deep, solitary at the tips of the 
branches. The ivory-white petals with a 
pleasant spicy odor have a hard, thick 
fleshy texture, and contrast well with the 
glaucous purplish blue of the sepals. “This 
fine tree,” says Bailey, “has been flowered 
in Kew but never in America so far as is 
known.” The leaves are 8-20 inches long, 
40 
leathery, smooth dark green and grow 
very densely on the branches. Seeds 
quickly lose their vitality. 
*WINTER’S BARK (Drimys winteri). 
Famous for nearly 400 years because its 
bark helped to cure scurvy in the crew of 
Sir Francis Drake’s ships that circumnavi- 
gated the globe in 1577, this South Amer- 
ican tree interests us only because it is a 
beautiful small ornamental evergreen tree, 
rarely to 30 feet. Related to the magnolia, 
it has leathery leaves and showy cream- 
colored, jasmine-scented flowers in spring, 
1 inch or more across, in loose clusters 
of 3 to 9. The tree has knotty branches 
and the bark is thick, aromatic and pung- 
ent. This tree is native in the windy 
forest country west of the Straits of Ma- 
gellan, so is half hardy. Arnold-Forster 
says: “In mild climates it makes magnifi- 
cent upright trees 40-50 feet high with 
large foliage, hung with clusters of slightly 
fragrant ivory-white flowers. The flower- 
ing lasts for about 6 months from the be- 
ginning of January. The plant grows 
fast, and despite the large size of its leaves, 
it can stand a good deal of wind. It makes 
a good wind screen for Magnolias. In the 
humid maritime counties (of England) 
this is a much more effective plant than 
one might suppose from seeing small 
plants in the drier southeastern counties.” 
Drimys trees are so difficult to obtain, I 
have to order my stock a year ahead. 
SNAPDRAGON TREE (Gmelina ar- 
borea). Much as I disapprove of invented 
“common” names, I think one is justified 
because this charming small Indian shade 
tree, rather rare in this country, does bear 
quantities of flowers that bear close re- 
semblance to those of Antirrhinum (Snap- 
dragon to you). They have 5 petals, 4 of 
which are tawny br6éwn, the 5th a bright 
yellow, and they are exquisitely fragrant. 
Appearing on the tree from February to 
May, when there are few leaves, the flow- 
ers even if small make a striking display. 
I won a flower show ribbon last year on 
a few of these in a bronze vase; they were 
lovely. Of course Gmelina is not related 
to the snapdragon; just to make things 
confusing it belongs in the Verbena family. 
