Yulan Magnolia Magnolia denudata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Magnolia heptapeta
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NO-li-a day-nu-DAH-ta
- Description
-
Yulan magnolia is beloved in China and is regarded as one of the most beautiful of all the magnolias. In China, it is known as 'Yulan" or 'Jade Lily." It is a large, attractive deciduous, early-flowering shrub or tree that has large, showy, upright, fragrant, creamy-white blooms in late winter or early spring. The blooms will appear before the leaves emerge. The leaves are dark green and obovate to oblong. The flowers are followed by brownish cone-like fruits that produce bright red-coated seeds by late summer to early fall. The tree grows 30 to 40 feet tall and equally as wide and is multi-stemmed with a rounded spreading crown.
The Yulan magnolia is native to eastern and southern China and has been in cultivation since 618 AD. This was the first magnolia to be introduced from Asia to the western world. It was first brought to England in 1780. This species is one of the parents to many cultivars such as Magnolia x soulangeana and Magnolia x vetchii.
The genus name, Magnolia, honors a French botanist from the 17th century, Pierre Magnol. The specific epithet, denudata, means naked and references the fact that the tree flowers before the leaves emerge.
This shrub or tree prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, organically rich loam soil. It is intolerant to extremes of soil dryness or wetness as well as urban pollution. It may be injured by late spring frost, and it is best planted in a sheltered location to protect it from winter winds. If pruning is required, it is best done immediately after flowering has been completed. Propagation may be by seeds or stem cuttings.
The Yulan magnolia makes a wonderful specimen in the landscape. Its exquisite flowers with their lemony scent in late winter or early spring would be lovely near a patio or walkway.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Late Winter and Early Spring Foliage: Late Spring and Summer Fruits: Late Summer and Early Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- deciduous large multi-stemmed shrub or tree ranging from 30 to 40 feet tall and as wide
- large, showy, upright, fragrant, creamy-white flowers with 9 to 12 tepals and tinged with pink at the base
- distinguishing feature--has fewer tepals than other magnolias
- dark green, obovate to oblong leaves, slightly pubescent, lighter green beneath
- brownish cone-like fruits with bright red coated seeds
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Yulan magnolia has no serious insect or disease problems, but it may be susceptible to insects such as capsid bugs, snails, and horse chestnut scales. Potential diseases include coral spots, gray mold, and honey fungus
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Forrest's Pink
Pink flowers, large tree - 'Japanese Clone'
larger flowers - 'Lacey'
flower up to 8 inches in diameter
- Forrest's Pink
- Forrest's Pink, 'Japanese Clone', 'Lacey'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Forrest's Pink
Pink flowers, large tree - 'Japanese Clone'
larger flowers - 'Lacey'
flower up to 8 inches in diameter
- Forrest's Pink
- Forrest's Pink, 'Japanese Clone', 'Lacey'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- denudata
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern & Southern China
- Distribution:
- Introduced to the western world in 1780
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the seeds, and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers are followed by cylinder-like, brownish, cone-like fruits that measure 4 to 6 inches long. When they mature in late summer, they release red-coated seeds that appear to be suspended by slender threads.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are solitary, fragrant, upright, cup-shaped or tulip-shaped, and creamy white to ivory blooms. The blooms measure They appear in late winter to early spring. The flowers are 5 to 6 inches in diameter and have 9 to 12 tepals (fewer tepals than other magnolias.) When mature they resemble lilies. The tepals sometimes have a tinge of pink at the base of the flower. The flowers bloom before the leaves emerge and have a lemon scent.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are simple, alternate, obovate to oblong, 4 to 6 inches long, and 2 to 3.5 inches wide. They are dark green on the upper surface, and lighter green beneath. The tip is short acuminate, and the base is tapering. They are slightly pubescent.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin and easily damaged.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are brown or green.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution