Magnolia x loebneri Leonard Messel

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' is a deciduous bush with a more rounded habit than the typical species. In late spring, this very floriferous Magnolia produces fragrant and star-shaped flowers composed of about a dozen delicate petals. This flowering occurs before the leaves appear. The flowers are lilac pink on the outside and light pink on the inside. They are large flowers measuring 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter. The stamens are pink.

The bright pink flower buds are decorative in winter. The slender branches bear deciduous foliage of a mid-dark green colour. The leaves measure from 10 cm to 15 cm (3.9 in to 5.9 in) in length. It can reach a height of 2 m to 2.5 m (6.6 ft to 8.2 ft) with a width of 1.5 cm (0.6 in).

Hailing from Japan, it is a very hardy species. Plant it alone in your garden or alongside evergreen bushes such as Rhododendrons. Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' is the result of a cross-breeding between the rosea Star Magnolia and the kobus Magnolia.