Magnolia maudiae
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Michelia chingii
- Michelia maudiae
- Phonetic Spelling
- mag-NOL-ee-ah MAWD-ee-ay
- Description
-
Magnolia Michelia is a flowering, shrubby tree, native to China, with blue-green, leathery, evergreen leaves and large, extremely fragrant flowers. It is a fairly large tree for a magnolia, reaching more than 60 feet high in the wild. It is an early bloomer and, unlike most magnolia species, is almost entirely hairless.
Magnolia Michelia does best with consistent moisture and good drainage. Plant near a patio or walkway so you can enjoy the scent especially in the mornings and early evening.
Magnolia Michelia is typically grown as an ornamental and is often used as a street tree in Chinese cities. It has become popular in the American Pacific Northwest, but in the milder Southeast, flowering can commence as early as December leading to frost damage.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to chlorosis, unless provided with sufficient nitrogen, iron and magnesium.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Magnolia
- Species:
- maudiae
- Family:
- Magnoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern China to Hainan
- Distribution:
- American Pacific Northwest.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Dense
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits 3 to 5 inches long and arranged in a spike. Dull brown with a short beak.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Description:
- Blooms from February into early summer with large, fragrant, creamy white flowers. Flowers are solitary or sometimes paired on axillary shoots. Nine tepals: the outer three obovate and clawed at the base. The inner tepals gradually narrowing. Early blooms can be damaged by frost.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are leathery, oblong-elliptic or, rarely, ovate-elliptic, 2 to 7 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Bark pale grey or greyish brown.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Branches are green becoming grey and smooth.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
