Magnolia Star Wars

The Magnolia Star Wars is a beautiful horticultural hybrid selected in Australia in 1982. This deciduous small tree is very hardy and offers an unforgettable spectacle in spring. It blooms on bare branches in March-April with an abundance of immense, sublime flowers. The pink corollas reveal a tightly closed heart that becomes even pinker as they open like lotus flowers. The tree quickly forms a graceful small tree with a spread-out and airy habit. It deserves a prominent place in any garden, but it's essential to remember that it takes on a more modest appearance once its extraordinary flowering is over. For the best results, it's recommended to plant it in cool, preferably neutral or acidic soil, in full sun or partial shade.

The Magnolia Star Wars hybridises two magnolia plants - the M. campbellii and the M. liliiflora. The M. campbellii is a large magnolia that produces enormous flowers at the end of winter. At the same time, the M. liliiflora is smaller and of Chinese origin, producing narrow lily-like flowers that bloom for longer. The 'Star Wars' plant is a small tree that grows up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall and 2.50 metres (8.2 ft) wide. It has rapid growth and a ramified, rounded and spread-out appearance. Its deciduous foliage consists of dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown in autumn. The leaves are tapered, measuring 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long and have fine, villous hair on the reverse side. The plant blooms from March to May before the leaves appear. It produces large solitary flowers that are tall and wide, measuring 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in). These flowers are formed by 10 to 15 waxy, thick, slightly incurved tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals) ranging from bright pink to candy pink. The flowers gradually open in a star shape around a cone-shaped heart, revealing at maturity numerous yellow stamens. Silky bracts protect the buds that hold the flowers.

Magnolias are ornamental trees that thrive in small gardens and large parks. It is often used as a standalone specimen in the middle of a lawn, where its remarkable flowering is most effective. You can also pair it with other interesting shrubs at different times of the year, such as maple, roses, Hibiscus syriacus, Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis', or Cornus kousa Satomi. Additionally, it blends well with acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas, nandinas, and peonies, making it perfect for a Japanese-style garden. You can also create beautiful flowering hedges along pathways by alternating this magnolia with other cultivars like Magnolia grandiflora or Magnolia denudata. As its root system is not dangerous for foundations, it can be planted against a house wall.

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