Magnolia wilsonii
OYAMA MAGNOLIA
Family: Magnoliaceae
Pronounced: mag-NO-lee-a WIL-son-ee-eye
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
Western China.
Plant Group:
Shrubs or Trees.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 4-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 7-9.
Heat zones: 9-7.
Mature size:
Height: 20 feet (6 m).
Width: 20 feet (6 m).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Fragrant, pendant, saucer-shaped, 3-4 inch wide, white flowers with crimson stamens and 9 snow-white tepals.
Leaf attributes:
Elliptic, lance-shaped, dark green leaves that are pointed at the apex.
Light:
Partial shade.
Soil:
Humus rich, fertile, neutral to acidic, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
In spring, side dress with a complete organic fertilizer. Add compost in fall.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed in fall and place in cold frame over winter.
Root softwood cuttings in early summer.
Root semi-ripe cuttings in late summer.
Pruning Methods:
Minimum pruning and only to remove deadwood, or take out crossed branches by pruning back to its base. Any other pruning can result in numerous water sprouts.
Rainy Side Notes
Magnolia wilsonii is considered a large shrub or small tree in some references; however, I think of it as a tree. Its normal multi-stemmed growth can be thwarted by pruning a young plant to a single trunk. Whether it's grown as a large shrub or small tree, Magnolia wilsonii is delightful. Peering up into its pendulous, fragrant blossoms, you'll notice this Magnolia gives a hardy goodbye to spring's end and a determined hello to summer's beginning.
Many references mark 1908 when Wilson found the species. However, Wilson himself wrote, It was discovered by me in the summer of 1904 and introduced into English gardens by seeds that I sent to Messrs. Veitch of that year." Nothing came of those seeds, but four years later Wilson collected more seed and sent them to the Arnold Arboretum. From there seeds were distributed to distinguished gardens, and eventually into many English gardens. He recalled M. wilsonii as a straggling bush roughly 10 to 15 feet tall as observed in western Sichuan in high elevations—at the edge of woods in thickets, along mountain streams and growing with other deciduous trees, shrubs, rhododendrons, hemlock, silver fir, and spruce.
Michael Dirr remarks that the Korean form of M. wilsonii is hardier. Here in the Northwest all forms are hardy and a great addition to the partially shaded garden.
Photographed at the Rhododendron Species Foundation.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton