Magnolia acuminata Butterflies

The Magnolia acuminata Butterfly ('sometimes called 'Butterflies') is perhaps the best variety of yellow-flowering magnolia, and its moderate growth is even suitable for small gardens. This small tree has a beautiful vigor and blooms abundantly, from a young age. Many flowers, large but light like butterflies and pleasantly fragrant, open on its still leafless branches. This variety, which tolerates cold as well as heat, will thrive in many regions, as long as the plant benefits from slightly acidic and always slightly moist soil.

The Magnolia Butterflies belongs to the magnolia family. It is a horticultural hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of Magnolia acuminata 'Fertile Myrtle' and M. denudata 'Sawada's Cream'. This excellent variety was obtained in 1988 in the state of Michigan in the U.S.A.

A small tree or large bush with a beautiful vigor, pyramid-shaped with a well-branched crown, Butterflies ®  reaches maturity (10 years) at about 4.50 meters (14 feet 10 inches) in height, with a width of 3 meters. In spring, in April, before the leaves appear, beautiful solitary flowers, erect and thick-textured, with 10 to 14 petals, open. These flowers, 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) in diameter, exhale a sweet and suave aroma of essential lemon oil. They emerge from buds protected by silky bracts. The tepals (indistinguishable sepals and petals) have a waxy texture, a soft and warm yellow colour, opening onto a red heart with numerous yellow stamens and surrounding a large green pistil. Its deciduous foliage falls in autumn. It consists of large obovate leaves, 15 cm (5.9 in) long, of medium green colour, with a paler and finely villous underside, turning yellow-brown in autumn. Butterfly® is hardy below -15°C (5 °F).

Simply superb, this Magnolia Butterflies brings an incredible charm to the garden from the first beautiful days. It is most often used as a solitary specimen in the middle of a short grass meadow, where its remarkable flowering is very impressive, but it is important to remember that once the flowering is over, it will somewhat fade into anonymity. It will therefore be advantageous to integrate it into a massif of shrubs with staggered flowering (Lilacs, Hibiscus, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Witch Hazels, Pieris, Anemone Tree, Fothergilla). In any case, make sure you can see it from your windows so as not to miss a single bit of this magnificent flowering with such unique colors, an antidote to the gloom that can occur when spring is awaited.