Magnolia stellata

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Magnolia stellata
Magnolia stellata fleurs.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Subgenus: Magnolia subg. Yulania
Section: Magnolia sect. Yulania
Subsection: Magnolia subsect. Yulania
Species:
M. stellata
Binomial name
Magnolia stellata
(Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim.

Magnolia stellata, the star magnolia, [1] is a slow-growing deciduous shrub or small tree native to Japan. It bears large, showy white or pink flowers in early spring, before its leaves open. This species is closely related to the Kobushi magnolia ( Magnolia kobus ), and is treated by many botanists as a variety or even a cultivar of that.[ citation needed ] However, Magnolia stellata was accepted as a distinct species in the 1998 monograph by Hunt. [2]

Contents

Description

Buds Star magnolia at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (81255).jpg
Buds

This shrub grows 1.5 to 2.5 metres (5 to 8 ft) [3] in height, spreading to 4.6 m (15 ft) in width at maturity. Young plants display upright oval growth, but the plants spread and mound with age. [4]

M. stellata blooms at a young age, with the slightly fragrant 7–10 cm (3–4 in) wide flowers covering the bare plant in late winter or early spring before the leaves appear. There is natural variation within the flower color, from white to rich pink; the pink also changes from year to year. The flowers are star-shaped, with at least 12 thin, delicate petal-like tepals, some cultivars having more than 30.

The leaves open bronze-green, turning to deep green as they mature, and yellow before dropping in autumn. They are oblong and about 10 cm (4 in) long by about 4 cm (1.6 in) wide.

M. stellata produces a reddish-green, knobby aggregate fruit about 5 cm (2 in) long that matures in early autumn. Mature fruit opens by slits to reveal orange-red seeds, but the fruits often drop before developing fully.[ citation needed ]

Young twigs have smooth, shiny chestnut brown bark, while the main trunks have smooth, silvery gray bark. Like the saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana), it is deciduous, revealing a twiggy, naked frame in winter. Plants have thick, fleshy roots which are found fairly close to the surface and do not tolerate much disturbance.

Origins

The species Magnolia stellata may be found growing wild in certain parts of the Ise Bay area of central Honshū, Japan’s largest island, at elevations of 50 to 600 m (160 to 1,970 ft). It grows by streamsides and in moist, boggy areas with such other woody plants as Enkianthus cernuus, Corylopsis glabrescens var. gotoana and Berberis sieboldii. [5]

Hybrids

This hybrid was first obtained by Max Loebner of Pillnitz, Germany. Paul M. Kache designated the new hybrid in 1920, to honour Max Löbner. Numerous other varieties are produced by these parents as 'Leonard Messel' and 'Merrill'. The selection, 'Leonard Messel' was a chance hybrid that was developed at Messel's garden in Sussex, UK, Nymans. Also on the market are white 'Ballerina' and the late-flowering white 'Merrill' that extend the loebneri season.

Cultivation

After it was introduced to the United States in 1862 by Dr. George Robert Hall (1820-1899), Magnolia stellata has been widely cultivated in much of North America, and has been recorded as an established escape in a few places. It is also a commonly grown ornamental in Europe, and was first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1877 or 1878, most likely by Charles Maries, while he was collecting for Veitch Nurseries.

Its compact size makes it an ideal subject for smaller gardens, where its flowers - appearing initially on bare stems - provide some much needed colour in early Spring. [6] The cultivars 'Centennial', [7] 'Jane Platt', [8] and 'Royal Star' [9] have all gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Spring frosts can damage the flowers. The shrub prefers deep, acidic soil. It may be propagated by seed, or more easily by rooting cuttings taken after the flower buds have formed. [10]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Weigela</i> Genus of flowering plants in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae

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<i>Magnolia <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> soulangeana</i> Hybrid species of tree

Magnolia × soulangeana, the saucer magnolia or sometimes the tulip tree, is a hybrid flowering plant in the genus Magnolia and family Magnoliaceae. It is a deciduous tree with large, early-blooming flowers in various shades of white, pink, and purple. It is one of the most commonly used magnolias in horticulture, being widely planted in the British Isles, especially in the south of England; and in the United States, especially the east and west coasts.

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<i>Magnolia <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> loebneri</i> Species of tree

Magnolia × loebneriKache is a hybrid of two Magnolia species, the Japanese Magnolia kobus and M. stellata. crossed by Garteninspektor Max Löbner of Pillnitz, Germany, shortly before World War I; it first flowered in 1917. The deciduous, elegant and compact multi-stemmed small flowering tree or large shrub, slowly attaining a height of 20 ft (6.1 m) and somewhat wider at maturity, is hardy to USDA Zone 4. Its fragrant late flowers, following its stellata parent by a couple of weeks, escape unexpected late spring frosts, but appear on the bare branches, to great effect. The deep pink buds open in informal strap-like tepals with pale shell pink upper surfaces and darker pink-purple lower ones. Like most magnolias, it thrives best on acid soils.

<i>Acer palmatum</i> Species of maple

Acer palmatum, commonly known as Japanese maple, palmate maple, or smooth Japanese maple (Korean: danpungnamu, 단풍나무, Japanese: irohamomiji, イロハモミジ, or momiji,, is a species of woody plant native to Korea, Japan, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their large variety of attractive forms, leaf shapes, and spectacular colors.

<i>Viburnum <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> bodnantense</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Elaeagnus <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> submacrophylla</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

  1. "Magnolia stellata". RHS. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. Hunt, D. (ed). 1998. Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society & Magnolia Society. ISBN   0-9517234-8-0
  3. rhs 2013
  4. Magnolia stellata Archived 2007-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Royal Horticultural Society - Publications: The Garden March 2006 Archived 2008-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   978-1405332965.
  7. "Magnolia stellata 'Centennial' AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  8. "Magnolia stellata 'Jane Platt' AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  9. "Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  10. Floridata: Magnolia stellata