Magnolias Plant Directory

Magnolia stellata (Shidekobushi)
Section Yulania
Epithet: star shaped.
H4
Diploid (2n=38)
FCC Veitch 1878, (AGM 1923, 1993, removed 2012)
Usually shrubby to 3m but occasionally slender tree up to 7m, with reddish brown bark.
10 year height/spread: usually 2m/3m
Flowers: 12-40 strap shaped petaloid tepals, 4-6.5cm long by 0.6-1.4cm, pure white through
palest pink to pink, with white or pale stamens, held horizontally on a densely pubescent
pedicle; usually fragrant.
March/April.
Foliage: obovate to oblanceolate leaves, 6-13.2cm long, 2.5-6.5cm wide, apex usually
rounded often with wavy margins. Dark green and glabrous above, pale green and usually
glabrous below (sometimes hairy on the veins).
Petioles yellowish 0.3-1.2cm long, winged or grooved.
Introduced to England: about 1875, probably by Veitch and from a Japanese nursery.
Distribution: Japan: South East coast of central Honshu at low altitude.
Recognise by: the growth habit, although this can be tree like; the (usually) glabrous lower
leaf. The flowers are distinct from any other species, though hybrids can be confusing.
Easy to root and grow in almost any exposure.
Flowers young. Very suitable for small gardens.
Should be in every collection.