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March 22, 2007 : Magnolia zenii
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Keywords: Magnoliaceae | Magnolia zenii Cheng | 028105-5283-1989
“‘Oh, look, look, Magnolia Z . . . oh wow, we gotta walk up to Magnolia zenii, oh wow, wow, wow! Magnolia zenii is out. Oh, all is right with the world, one of the first magnolias.’” — Michael Dirr, quoted in this piece on his retirement from the University of Georgia.
Like so many other rare Chinese plants, Zen's magnolia is endemic to one mountainside in China, the north slopes of Mt. Boa-hua. The interesting story of Magnolia zenii, including details on its introduction, cultivation and propagation, is expertly told by Peter Del Tredici and Stephen Spongberg in A New Magnolia Blooms in Boston (PDF) from Arnoldia 49(2).
Del Tredici and Spongberg mention that the flowers of Magnolia zenii are “extremely fragrant”. I concur, though I wouldn't want to be forced to smell them for a long period of time. A quick drink of the scent is perfumey and pleasant (and as a garden visitor mentioned to me after I suggested he smell them while I was taking these photographs, “wild”), but I found a longer quaff causes the fragrance to be cloying.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at March 22, 2007 6:38 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Beverley at March 22, 2007 8:42 AM
You're lucky to live where magnolia will thrive, Daniel. Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous tree~
Posted by: maureen at March 22, 2007 8:53 AM
Looks like the flowers can become profuse as the tree matures.
"One of the four plants at the Arnold Arboretum bloomed at about seven years of age. Flowers had only 6-7 tepals, due to lack of expansion of 2-3 of the inner tepals. A plant at the U.S. National Arboretum first bloomed in 1990 at the age of nine years. There is a strong fragrance to these flowers. The species may be marginally hardy in Zone 5, yet further observation is necessary to confirm this."
--Callaway, THE WORLD OF MAGNOLIAS (Timber Press)
Posted by: Ron B at March 22, 2007 12:08 PM
where can I find one of these trees? contact me at email address removed -- Daniel. thanks.
Posted by: frank at April 26, 2007 7:41 PM
Frank, I've sent you a how-to on using the forums, where we have a Sourcing Plants and Supplies area. This allows you to keep your email address private while getting a response from a larger population of folks.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at April 27, 2007 9:40 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Magnolia zenii - Z9 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths