Manglietia insignis

Manglietia insignis, also known as Magnolia insignis, is a small tree native to the mild regions of the Himalayas, still rarely available for sale. With an elegant habit, it bears large and beautiful evergreen leaves of a bright green colour and boasts a long spring flowering in the form of beautiful cups vividly coloured in carmine pink and cream, reminiscent of those of its relative, the magnolia. With an almost tropical appearance and temperament, it can be grown in containers in colder regions and stored in a cold greenhouse during winter. In milder climates, it can be planted in the ground. It is a unique plant, of great elegance, and is no more demanding than its cousin the magnolia.

Manglietia insignis, charmingly called 'Red Lotus Tree', belongs to the Magnoliaceae family. It is native to certain regions of the Himalayas, western China, and northern Vietnam. It is an evergreen bush with an initially upright and conical habit in its youth, becoming widely pyramidal with age. Its foliage is dense, and the branches almost black, with several trunks and numerous ramifications. Depending on growing conditions, it will reach a height of 5 to 8m (16 to 26ft) with a width of 3 to 5m (10 to 16ft) in our climates. Its growth is slow, reaching maturity in 10 years in the best cases. The slightly fragrant flowering occurs from March-April to June. Bursting with green buds, they unfold into open cups measuring 8cm (3in) in diameter and 12cm (5in) in length, consisting of 9 to 12 waxy petals in pure colours, ranging from purplish pink to almost red with a white-cream base. They display a bouquet of cream-pink stamens surrounding a granular green pistil in their centre. After pollination, violet fruits measuring 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long sometimes form. The semi-persistent to evergreen foliage is leathery, with a glossy green finish, composed of large entire and ovate leaves, 10 to 20cm (4 to 8in) long, with a lighter velvety underside. The young leaves are coppery and pubescent. The hardiness of this magnolia is still to be determined, but it seems to be around -10°C (14°F) for adult specimens.

Plant Manglietia insignis to highlight its beauty: as a standalone specimen, near a pathway to enjoy its exotic flowering, or in a large container on a terrace for winter storage. In mild climates and in cool, porous, non-calcareous soil, it will work wonders as a standalone plant on a lawn, but also mixed in a flower bed or in an informal hedge with viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum), Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum), or other shrubs that won't overshadow its beauty. In an exotic flower bed, it can accompany, for example, a giant canna (Canna musafolia), an aralia, hedychium, or an imperial dahlia.