picture of the week
January 30, 2023
Magnolia Trees
Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist-Retired, Purdue University
Magnolia trees are some of the most beloved landscape indicators that Spring has truly arrived. Most people are familiar with the creamy white flowers of the Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) or the dark rosy pink to creamy white color of the Saucer Magnolia (M. soulangeana). Some may know the Cucumber tree Magnolia (M. acuminata) to be a larger tree with less showy greenish yellow flowers. Plant breeders have worked with the Cucumber tree to produce some excellent true yellow-flowered forms. One of the best is shown here, Magnolia 'Butterflies.' Although a larger tree, reaching up to 20 feet in height, the early flowers on leafless branches make M. 'Butterflies' a worthy candidate for any landscape.
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