Magnolias Plant Directory

Magnolia wilsonii
Section Oyama
Epithet: after E.H.Wilson
H6
Diploid (2n=38)
AM Borde Hill 1930, Leonardslee 1932, FCC Simmons 1971,
AGM (1993) 2012
Small straggly tree to 8m, often shrubby, with brownish bark with conspicuous corky lenticels.
10 year height/spread: 2.5m/3.5m
Flowers: 6-9 (but double forms have been reported) petaloid broadly spatulate or obovate
tepals, 4-6.5cm long by 3-4.5cm, pure white with rosy purple stamens, erect in bud and cup-shaped
initially opening to saucer shaped and hanging vertically on a pedicle 3-5cm long; fragrant.
May/June often with a second flush in August.
Foliage: usually lanceolate or oblong-ovate leaves 6.5-15cm long, 3-7cm wide, apex acute or
acuminate. Dull green and usually glabrous when mature except on the veins above, thickly felted to
thinly sericeous below at maturity, hairs on the veins rufous or yellowish, the other silvery grey.
Petioles 1-3cm covered with rufous hairs. The stipule scar on the petiole extends to more than
half its length.
Introduced to England: about 1908 by Wilson.
Distribution: China: N Yunnan, W & SW Sichuan and W Guizhou. 1900-3300m.
Recognise by: the more erect growth habit than sieboldii; the hanging flowers; the stipule scar
extending more than half way along the petiole; the nature of the lower leaf surface and the often
lanceolate leaf shape.