Magnolia x soulangeana

One of the oldest flowering trees, the Magnolia x soulangeana is a fascinating deciduous foliage bush of medium size with a spreading habit, well branched, slow growing, and extremely floriferous. It is covered in early spring, before the leaves appear, with large flowers that are slightly fragrant and cream-white, pink, and purple in colour, shaped like tulips. A sumptuous spectacle in pastel colours that brings the garden back to life after winter!

This Magnolia, belonging to the magnolia family and originating from Asia, is a French horticultural creation from the 19th century, resulting from the crossbreeding of Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliflora. It is an upright tree with a rounded and spreading shape, taller than wide, reaching a height of 6 to 8 metres at maturity and a width of 4.50 metres. It often has a bushy habit with beautiful, well-balanced branches, but it can also grow with a single trunk. The base of its leaves is contracted, and their rounded tip is briefly tapering. The deciduous foliage consists of oval, dark green leaves with a paler and finely velvety underside, turning yellow-brown in autumn, and measuring 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long. From March to May, large campanulate flowers appear, before and after the leaves, solitary and fragrant, shaped like cups or tulips, white on the inside and dark pink-purple on the outside. These upright flowers open from buds protected by velvety bracts and are made up of 9 waxy and thick tepals (indistinguishable sepals and petals), opening widely and measuring up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long, with numerous red-brown stamens. After flowering, brown fruits in the shape of cylindrical cones appear, containing red seeds. The longevity of the Magnolia x soulangeana can exceed a hundred years. It is one of the most widely planted Magnolia in parks and gardens across Europe.

This Magnolia x soulangeana, an exceptional ornamental tree, will thrive in both small gardens and large parks! It is perfectly suited to our climates and should be planted in a rich, moist, and well-drained soil that is not chalky, in full sun or partial shade. Also, avoid planting other plants within 1.50 metres (4 feet 11 inches) of the Magnolia trunk, as its roots do not tolerate competition. It is most commonly used as a solitary specimen in the middle of a short grass meadow, where its remarkable flowering is truly impressive. It can also be combined with a mass planting of acid-loving shrubs (Rhododendrons, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Nandinas, Peonies...) for a Japanese-style garden. It is also possible to create beautiful flowering hedges along pathways, alternating this Magnolia with other cultivars (Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia denudata...).

Magnolias are ancient trees, with fossils dating back more than 20 million years. Their magnificent flowering is considered one of the most primitive: their flowers are, from an evolutionary point of view, close to the earliest existing flowers. The bark of magnolias has medicinal properties and is used in cosmetics. Their wood is considered precious.