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10 fascinating facts every magnolia lover should know
Magnolia flowers have been around for a mighty long time!
They've been around for a mighty long time!
Magnolia 'Atlas' boasts the biggest flowers, which can reach a whopping 14 inches across.
There are four National Magnolia Collections in the UK: Caerhays in Cornwall, Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire, Windsor Great Park in Berkshire and Bodnant in north Wales.
They're prehistoric! Fossils have revealed that magnolia plants existed at least 20 million years ago.
Magnolia officinalis bark is used in traditional Chinese medicine remedies to improve lung health and treat anxiety.
There are 147 wild magnolias in danger of extinction from a global total of 304 species, according to the IUCN Red List.
Magnolias can be grown from seed but may take more than 10 years to begin flowering.
According to the Tree Register, the tallest recorded magnolia tree in the UK is a Magnolia campbellii. It can be found in Clyne Gardens, Swansea and stands a lofty 26m high.
There are varieties suitable for small gardens, such as Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' and Magnolia stellate
Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia × wieseneri have the most highly fragranced blooms.
Magnolias thrive in any fertile, well-drained soil, in a sunny or partly shady spot that's sheltered from the wind.