Magnolia grandiflora Kay Parris

The Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' allows this majestic evergreen tree, which is a bit sensitive to cold, known as the Large-flowered Magnolia, to enter smaller gardens. With moderate growth and a narrow and regular habit, this variety has beautiful foliage with a velvety brown-red color and has the same summer flowering that is appreciated for its fragrance and beauty. For almost three months, even on a young specimen, flowers similar to beautiful white tulips with a deliciously lemon scent bloom. 'Kay Parris' works wonders as a solitary plant in the garden, but also in a large container on the terrace.

Originally from the Southeastern United States, the Magnolia grandiflora loves light, heat, humidity, and rich, deep soil. Its range extends from Texas to Virginia, passing through the north and center of Florida.

 'Kay Parris' is a recent cultivar selected for its reduced growth and cold resistance, down to -15°C (5°F) at its peak. Ultimately, it will rarely exceed 4m (13ft) in height, with a spread of 2m. Its slow growth allows it to be cultivated for several years in a large container, where it will maintain a more modest size. The flowering mainly takes place in summer, from June to August-September (in the southeastern USA, flowering begins in late April and ends in July). The large solitary flowers, shaped like 12 to 13cm (5in) diameter tulips, are composed of thick petals, pure white, open around a cone covered with yellow stamens. Each flower only lives for one day on the tree, but they continuously appear here and there on the branches, standing out well from the foliage. This flowering is followed by the formation of large reddish cones, quite decorative, revealing red seeds. The simple, entire, leathery leaves, 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) long, are dark green and shiny on the upper side, but covered with a velvety brown-red on the underside. They persist through winter.

The Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' will obviously find its place as a solitary plant in the garden, but also in a large container on the terrace. Choose a strategic location to be able to admire this charming small tree, perhaps the most beautiful of all evergreens, and enjoy its intensely lemon-scented flowering. It could be combined, for example, with another small, deciduous magnolia with spring flowering, such as the Magnolia 'George Henry Kern'. This magnolia lends itself well to topiary art and can be shaped into a pyramid, to be placed, for example, on either side of a gate or a large stone porch.