Magnolia stellata

The Magnolia stellata is a small very floriferous bush that develops silky flower buds opening into pure white, fragrant stars.

The Star Magnolia is the earliest and most floriferous species of the Magnolia genus. Its fragrant white flowers with multiple petals cover the entire plant from the month of March, before the leaves emerge. It is a true enchantment as the flowering explosion is rapid and lasts for several weeks despite the cool temperatures. It also offers a fairly light and subtle fragrance with vanilla and lemon notes that capture the attention of passersby. Flowering occurs in young plants as early as 18 months old.

Magnolia stellata has a bushy and spreading habit over time, but is highly branched, reaching a height of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) (up to 6 m (19 ft 8 in) in the wild) and a width of 2.50 to 3.50 m (8 ft 2 in to 11 ft 6 in). The flowers, with 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) in diameter corollas, are solitary, initially cup-shaped and then star-shaped, pure white and appear on bare wood in March-April. The leaves then develop: deciduous, alternate, simple, oval, dark green with a paler underside, turning golden in autumn, measuring 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) long.

Native to Japan, Magnolia stellata is resistant to -25°C (-13 °F), in a cool, rich, well-drained, neutral to acidic soil, in a sunny or semi-shaded location, and sheltered from prevailing winds. In summer, keep the soil moist by mulching with pine bark. Avoid limestone soils.

This Star Magnolia, an outstanding ornamental tree, is perfect for a small-sized garden where it will quickly become the star of spring. It is a classic of a white garden. It is most often used as a standalone specimen in the middle of a lawn, where its remarkable flowering is highly effective, but when planting it, remember that once the flowering is over, it will somewhat fade into anonymity. It will therefore be advantageous to plant it with a shrub border that, like it, prefers non-limestone soils, with staggered bloom times (Rhododendrons, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Witch hazels, Pieris, Anemone tree, Fothergilla, Wintersweet...), for a Japanese-style garden. Just make sure not to plant any other vegetation within 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) of the Magnolia trunk, as its roots do not tolerate competition. It is also possible to create beautiful flowering hedges along pathways, alternating this Magnolia with other cultivars (Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia denudata, liliflora, brooklyniensis...). Due to its small size and slow growth, the Star Magnolia is ideal in a pot on a terrace where you can enjoy its pleasant vanilla fragrance.

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