Magnolia grandiflora Treyve

The Magnolia grandiflora 'Treyve' is an evergreen magnolia variety selected for its great resistance to cold. This tree has an upright and dense habit, forming a perfect pyramid that is perfectly suited for small gardens and mixed borders. It has beautiful thick, dark green, glossy and undulate leaves with a velvety reddish-brown underside, which contrast nicely with its abundant pure white cup-shaped, fragrant flowers from June to August. It is a vigorous cultivar that tolerates all deep, moist and slightly acidic soils, in full sun or partial shade.       

Native to the Southeastern United States, the Magnolia grandiflora, also known as Southern Magnolia or Bull Bay, thrives in light, heat, humidity and rich, deep soils. It can tolerate slightly alkaline soils but prefers acidic ones. Its range extends from Texas to Virginia, including the northern and central parts of Florida. It does not like harsh winters  and the further north you go, the less it flowers. Once well established, this tree is resistant to short-lived droughts. It thrives in oceanic climates, becoming more vigorous in mild, wet climates.

'Treyve' is an old cultivar selected in 1860 by the François Treyve Nurseries in Auvergne. It is characterized by its hardiness, a small pyramidal shape, and an abundance of summer flowers. Ultimately, this tree will reach an average height of 10 m (33ft) with a spread of 5 m (16ft). It grows moderately fast, up to about 4 m (13ft) in 10 years. Flowering takes place mainly during summer, starting as early as late March (in the southeastern U.S., flowering starts in late April and ends in July).  The large, solitary, tulip-shaped flowers, over 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter, are made up of thick, creamy-white petals opening around a pink cone covered with yellow stamens. Each flower only lasts for one day on the tree, but they renew themselves continuously. The flowers are particularly fragrant,  followed by the formation of large, quite decorative reddish cones, revealing red seeds resembling pine cones. The evergreen leaves, arranged alternately on the branches, are simple, smooth-edged, thick, leathery, undulate, and 15-20 cm (6 - 8in) long. They are dark and glossy on the upper side, russet and hairy on the underside. The bark is smooth and blackish-grey, while its young branches are hairy and reddish-brown.

The Magnolia grandiflora 'Treyve' is mainly used as a free-standing specimen in small gardens, as a tree to plant along an avenue, or in hedgerows, along with other diverse species, or even on larger plots. Choose a prominent spot in the garden to be able to admire this tree, perhaps the most beautiful of all evergreens, and enjoy its magnificent lemon-scented flowers. It could also possibly be combined with another large deciduous spring flowering magnolia, such as the Magnolia soulangeana. Alternatively, plant it in a shrubbery or mixed border combining deciduous and evergreen plants.