Magnolias

Typified by the ever-popular hybrid saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana), many Asian magnolias are precocious, meaning they flower before the leaves emerge in spring. Precocious magnolias in the collection include species, hybrids, and selections including zen magnolia (Magnolia zenii), star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana), Alexandrina saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’), and many others.

The eight species of magnolia native to the United States bloom much later, starting in mid-May. Native magnolias in the collection include bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala), and Ashe’s magnolia (Magnolia ashei).