Magnolia Galaxy

The Magnolia 'Galaxy' is an interesting American hybrid due to its well-balanced habit, fast growth, and wonderful flowering, which is early, abundant, prolonged, and unique. From the end of winter, before the leaves appear, its branches are covered with upright flowers that resemble narrow tulips in a bright pink color. They gracefully open, semi-double stars with a pale pink interior, and are slightly fragrant. They bloom abundantly in March-April, before the leaves. This variety ages beautifully and forms prestigious specimens when planted in rows. Provide it with a fresh, neutral to acidic soil and a sunny to semi-shaded exposure.

This Magnolia, belonging to the magnolia family, is a horticultural hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding between the Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra', with lily-shaped flowers, and the superb Magnolia spengeri var. Diva'. A small tree with a regular ovate crown, it reaches a height of about 7 meters (23 feet) and a width of 5 meters (16 feet) after about ten years of growth. Young specimens are narrower and develop a central leader. In March-April large solitary, slightly fragrant flowers appear in abundance on its bare branches, standing at a height of 11 cm (4 in), with a shape reminiscent of tulips with lily-like flowers. These flowers open widely, displaying 10 to 16 pointed petals with a thick, waxy texture. They bloom from buds protected by silky bracts. The center of each flower is occupied by numerous yellow stamens and a large green pistil. It is not uncommon for this magnolia to sporadically bloom throughout the summer, until September. Its deciduous foliage consists of large obovate leaves, 20 cm (8 in) long and 10 cm (4 in) wide, with a medium green color, a paler and finely hairy underside, turning yellow-brown in autumn before falling.

This Magnolia Galaxy, an excellent ornamental tree, will work wonders in a large garden, quickly becoming the star of spring. It is most often used as a solitary specimen in the middle of a short grass meadow, where its remarkable flowering is most effective. It can also be integrated into a mass planting of acid-loving shrubs with staggered flowering times (large Rhododendrons, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Witch Hazels, Pieris, Anemone Trees, Fothergilla...), for a Japanese-style garden. It is also possible to create large flowering hedges when space allows, alternating this Magnolia with other cultivars (Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia denudata, stellata, brooklyniensis...).

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

Its name, Magnolia, was given to it in 1703 by Charles Plumier, botanist to King Louis XIV, paying homage to the physician-botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), who was one of the directors of the Botanical Garden of Montpellier in the late 17th century. Its specific name, soulangeana, originates from Etienne Soulange-Bodin (1774-1846), a retired cavalry officer from Napoleon's army, who devoted himself to horticulture. In his chateau de Fromont, near Paris, he became passionate about magnolias and obtained this hybrid in 1829, the origin of a magnificent lineage of cultivars today!